Method of making nano-particles of selected size distribution
AssigneeBridgestone Corporation
InventorsXiaorong Wang, Victor J. Foltz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for forming a nanoparticle composition is provided. The process includes polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent to form a first reaction mixture, and charging excess alkenylbenzense monomer and anionic catalyst to form mono-block and diblock polymers. Micelles of said mono-block and diblock polymers are formed, and at least one crosslinking agent is added to cross-link the micelles and form nanoparticles. The nanoparticles preferably have a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and an outer layer including monomer units selected from the group consisting of conjugated dienes, alkenylbenzenes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof, and a size distribution of between about 1 and 1000 nm.
Claims37
A process for forming a nanoparticle composition comprising:
- a. polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent to form a first reaction mixture;
- b. charging to said reaction mixture alkenylbenzene monomer in excess of said conjugated diene monomer and catalyst to form mono-block and diblock polymers;
- c. forming micelles of said mono-block and diblock polymers;
- and;
- d. adding at least one crosslinking agent to cross-link said micelles and form nanoparticles, said nanoparticles having a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and an outer layer including monomer units selected from the group consisting of conjugated dienes, alkenylbenzenes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof;
- and
- wherein said nanoparticles have a size distribution of between about 1 and 1000
A polymer nanoparticle composition comprising nanoparticles with a size distribution between about 1 nm and 1000 nm, and a polydispersity index between about 1.5 and about 10, wherein said nanoparticles include:
- a. an outer layer including first monomer units selected from the group consisting of alkenylbenzenes, conjugated dienes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof, and
- b. an inner layer including second monomer units comprised of an alkenylbenzene, wherein said nanoparticles are comprised of said second monomer units and said first monomer units, in a ratio of said second monomer units to said first monomer units greater than 1:1,
- and include mono-block and diblock polymer chains,
- and wherein said nanoparticles have a size distribution that is polymodal.
A rubber composition comprising:
- a. rubber;
- and
- b. polymer nanoparticles having a size distribution between about 1 and 1000 nm, and including:
- (i) an outer layer having monomer units selected from the group consisting of conjugated dienes, alkenylbenzenes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof, and
- (ii) an inner layer including alkenylbenzene monomer units.
A polymer nanoparticle composition comprising nanoparticles with a size distribution between about 1 nm and 1000 nm, wherein said nanoparticles include:
- a. an outer layer including first monomer units selected from the group consisting of alkenylbenzenes, conjugated diener, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof, and
- b. an inner layer including second monomer units comprised of an alkenylbenzene;
- wherein said nanoparticles are comprised of said second monomer units and said first monomer units, and are crosslinked at the inner layer with a cross-linking agent;
- wherein said nanoparticles have a size distribution that is polymodal with a polydispersity index between about 1.5 and about 10.
(canceled)
A crosslinked core-shell nanoparticle comprising:
- i. diblock copolymer chains, comprising:
- a. shell monomer units selected from the group consisting of alkenylbenzenes, conjugated dienes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof, and
- b. core monomer units of an alkenylbenzene;
- ii. monoblock polymer chains, comprising monomer units of an alkenylbenzene;
- wherein the core of the nanoparticle comprises the core monomer units of the diblock copolymer chains and the monomer units of the monoblock polymer chains, and the shell of the nanoparticle comprises the shell monomer units of the diblock copolymer chains;
- wherein said nanoparticles are crosslinked at the core with a crosslinking agent and have a size distribution that is polymodal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.