Claims
- 1. A nano-particle composition comprising:
a. a poly(alkenylbenzene) core, and b. a surface layer comprising poly(conjugated diene), poly(alkylene), or mixtures thereof wherein said nano-particles have a mean average diameter of less than about 100 nm.
- 2. The composition of claim 1 further including at least one functional group.
- 3. The composition of claim 2 wherein said functional group is associated with the surface layer.
- 4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said surface layer further includes vinyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon monomer units.
- 5. The composition of claim 4 wherein said surface layer comprises a diblock polymer.
- 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said core is cross-linked.
- 7. The composition of claim 5 further wherein said core comprises substantially a mono-block polymer.
- 8. The composition of claim 7 wherein said mono-block polymer chains and said diblock polymer chains are cross-linked.
- 9. A process for forming polymer nano-particles comprising:
a. polymerizing alkenylbenzene and conjugated diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent solvent to form a diblock polymer; b. forming a mixture including micelles of said diblock polymer; and c. adding at least one cross-linking agent to the polymerization mixture to form cross-linked nano-particles from said micelles, said nano-particles comprising a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a poly(conjugated diene) surface.
- 10. The process of claim 9 wherein step a is performed in the presence of a functionalized lithium initiator.
- 11. The process of claim 9 further including a hydrogenation step converting said poly(conjugated diene) surface to a poly(alkylene) surface.
- 12. The process of claim 9 further including polymerization of alkenylbenzene to form a mono-block polymer.
- 13. The process of claim 12 wherein the ratio of said mono-block polymer to said diblock polymer is controlled by selective addition of initiator and optionally a further monomer addition.
- 14. The process of claim 9 wherein said diblock polymer includes a poly(alkenylbenzene) block and a copolymer block.
- 15. A nano-particle composition comprising:
a. a poly(alkenylbenzene) core, and b. a polyalkylene surface layer comprising at least one alkylene contributed monomer unit, wherein said nano-particles have a mean average diameter of less than about 100 nm.
- 16. The composition of claim 15 wherein said surface layer includes a functional group.
- 17. The composition of claim 15 wherein said polyalkylene surface layer includes monomer units selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and mixtures thereof.
- 18. The composition of claim 15 wherein said polyalkylene surface layer further includes at least one alkenylbenzene monomer unit.
- 19. The composition of claim 15 further comprising a crosslinking agent.
- 20. A process for forming polymer nano-particles comprising:
a. polymerizing alkenylbenzene monomer and conjugated diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent to form a diblock polymer; b. forming a polymerization mixture including micelles of said diblock polymer; c. adding at least one crosslinking agent to the polymerization mixture to form crosslinked nano-particles from said micelles; and d. hydrogenating a poly(conjugated diene) layer of said nano-particles to form nano-particles containing a poly(alkenylbenzene) inner layer and a polycrystalline outer layer.
- 21. The process of claim 20 wherein step a is performed in the presence of a functionalized lithium initiator.
- 22. The process of claim 20 wherein subsequent to step a, further hydrocarbon solvent is added to the polymerization mixture.
- 23. The process of claim 20 including a further step wherein mono-block polymer comprising poly(alkenylbenzene) is formed prior to step b.
- 24. A polymer nano-particle having a mean average diameter of less than about 100 nm comprising:
a. a poly(alkenylbenzene) core, and b. surface layer comprising monomer units including conjugated dienes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof. c. a functional group attached on or near the surface.
- 25. The composition of claim 34 wherein said functional group is a component of an initiator residue.
- 26. The composition of claim 24 wherein said functional group is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, alcohol, amine, formyl, tin, silicon, silyl ether and mixtures thereof.
- 27. A process for forming a functionalized polymer nano-particle composition comprising:
a. polymerizing alkenylbenzene monomer and conjugated diene monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent, in the presence of a functionalized initiator, to form a diblock polymer; b. forming a polymerization mixture including micelles of said diblock polymer; and c. adding at least one crosslinking agent to the polymerization mixture to form crosslinked nano-particles from said micelles, said nano-particles having a mean average diameter less than about 100 nm.
- 28. The process of claim 27 wherein said functionalized initiator is a functionalized lithium initiator.
- 29. The process of claim 28 wherein said functionalized lithium initiator includes a functional group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, alcohols, amines, formyl, tin, silicon, silyl ether, and mixtures thereof.
- 30. The process of claim 29 wherein said functionalized lithium initiator is hexamethylene imine propyllithium.
- 31. The process of claim 28 further including a hydrogenation step.
- 32. A rubber composition comprising:
a. a rubber, and b. a polymer nano-particle including a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer comprising monomer units including conjugated dienes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof.
- 33. The rubber composition of claim 32 further including an inorganic filler.
- 34. The composition of claim 32 wherein said rubber is selected from the group consisting of random styrene/butadiene copolymers, butadiene rubber, polyisoprene, nitrile rubber, polyurethane, butyl rubber, EPDM, and mixtures thereof.
- 35. The composition of claim 32 wherein said polymer nano-particle further includes a functional group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, alcohol, amine, formyl, tin, silicon, silyl ether, and mixtures thereof.
- 36. The composition of claim 32 wherein said surface layer further includes alkenylbenzene monomer units.
- 37. A thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising:
a. a thermoplastic elastomer; and b. a polymer nano-particle including a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer comprising monomer units including conjugated dienes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof.
- 38. The composition of claim 37 further including an extender to form a gel.
- 39. The composition of claim 37 wherein said thermoplastic elastomer is selected from the group consisting of SEPS, SEBS, SEPE, SEBE, EEBE, EEPE polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and mixtures thereof.
- 40. A rubber composition comprising:
a. rubber; b. silica; and c. a polymer nano-particle including a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer comprising monomer units including conjugated dienes, alkylenes, alkenylbenzene, and mixtures thereof.
- 41. The composition of claim 40 wherein said polymer nano-particle further includes a functional group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, alcohol, amine, formyl, tin, silicon, silyl ether, and mixtures thereof.
- 42. A tire including the composition of claim 40.
- 43. A hard disk drive gasket composition comprising:
a. a rubber; b. a polyalkylene; and c. a polymer nano-particle including a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer including monomer units selected from the group consisting of conjugated dienes, alkylenes, alkenylbenzene and mixtures thereof.
- 44. The composition of claim 43 wherein said rubber is selected from the group consisting of random styrene/butadiene copolymers, butadiene rubber, polyisoprene, nitrile rubber, polyurethane, butyl rubber, EPDM, and mixtures thereof.
- 45. The composition of claim 43 wherein said polymer nano-particle further includes a functional group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, alcohols, amines, formyl, tin, silica, and mixtures thereof.
- 46. A matrix composition comprising:
a. a host; and b. a polymer nano-particle including a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer comprising monomer units including conjugated dienes, alkylenes, and mixtures thereof.
- 47. A vulcanizable elastomeric composition comprising:
a rubber; nano-particles; a reinforcing filler; and a curing agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve sufficient cure.
- 48. An engine mount comprised of the composition of claim 47.
- 49. A tire including the composition of claim 47.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/970,830 filed Oct. 4, 2001 and U.S. Ser. No. 10/038,748 filed on Dec. 31, 2001.
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09970830 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
Child |
10223393 |
Aug 2002 |
US |
Parent |
10038748 |
Dec 2001 |
US |
Child |
10223393 |
Aug 2002 |
US |