Abstract: Compositions and methods for preparing at least partially hollow nanoparticles having an outer shell comprising a one or more molecules and/or residues derived from a metal soap, where the nanoparticles each comprise a continuous inner void space that averages at least 10 percent of the volume of each of the nanoparticles. Such at least partially hollow nanoparticles can be employed in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, tire manufacturing.

Abstract: The invention provides a hollow nano-particle comprising a crosslinked shell and a void core; and a preparation method thereof. The hollow nano-particle may be used in rubber composition, tire product, and pharmaceutical delivery system etc.

Abstract: The invention provides a hollow nano-particle comprising a crosslinked shell and a void core; and a preparation method thereof. The hollow nano-particle may be used in rubber composition, tire product, and pharmaceutical delivery system etc.

Abstract: A rubber formulation with good wet traction properties includes one or more elastomers and at least two types of particulate filler materials including at least one of which has a relatively high free surface energy in water (i.e., a supplemental filler). The formulation containing the supplemental filler(s) can provide a vulcanizate that has a British pendulum (skid) number that is at least ˜5% greater than that of a vulcanizate made from an essentially identical formulation that does not contain the supplemental filler(s). Also provided is a method for providing such a formulation which involves identifying one or more supplemental fillers having relatively high free surface energies in water, replacing at least 15% (by wt.) of one or more of the conventional particulate fillers in the formulation with an approximately equivalent volume of supplemental filler particles, and providing the modified formulation.

Abstract: A disk-like nanoparticle includes a core layer that comprises a cross-linked multi-vinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a shell layer that comprises tri-block copolymer chains, each having a first, a second, and a third block. The first and third blocks of the tri-block copolymer chains comprise vinyl aromatic monomer units and are crosslinked with the core. The second block comprises conjugated diene monomer units and comprises a top and bottom axial surface of the disk-like nanoparticle. In the case of a nanoparticle having A-B-C tri-block copolymer chains, the third block comprises a top and bottom axial surface of the disk-like nanoparticle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer/metal nano-composite. The nano-composite includes at least one copolymer chain having alkenyl monomer units and maleimide monomer units, and a nano-sized metal or inorganic crystal. It also provides a method of producing nano-sized metal/inorganic crystals in pure form. These nano-composites and nano-crystals can be useful as polymer fillers, tire rubber compounds, semiconductors, nano-magnets, catalysts, and quantum dots etc.

Abstract: A disk-like nanoparticle includes a core layer that comprises a cross-linked multi-vinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a shell layer that comprises tri-block copolymer chains, each having a first, a second, and a third block. The first and third blocks of the tri-block copolymer chains comprise vinyl aromatic monomer units and are crosslinked with the core. The second block comprises conjugated diene monomer units and comprises a top and bottom axial surface of the disk-like nanoparticle. In the case of a nanoparticle having A-B-C tri-block copolymer chains, the third block comprises a top and bottom axial surface of the disk-like nanoparticle.

Abstract: Particular embodiments are directed toward a rubber mixture comprising (i) a rubber; and (ii) a filler component, where the filler component includes a filler selected from the group consisting of amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate, amorphous aluminum hydroxyoxycarbonate, and amorphous aluminum oxycarbonate, where said amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate, amorphous aluminum hydroxyoxycarbonate, and amorphous aluminum oxycarbonate are characterized by a BET specific surface area of less than 40 m2/g.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for preparing at least partially hollow nanoparticles having an outer shell comprising a one or more molecules and/or residues derived from a metal soap, where the nanoparticles each comprise a continuous inner void space that averages at least 10 percent of the volume of each of the nanoparticles. Such at least partially hollow nanoparticles can be employed in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, tire manufacturing.

Abstract: Particular embodiments are directed toward a rubber mixture comprising (i) a rubber; and (ii) a filler component, where the filler component includes a filler selected from the group consisting of amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate, amorphous aluminum hydroxyoxycarbonate, and amorphous aluminum oxycarbonate, where said amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate, amorphous aluminum hydroxyoxycarbonate, and amorphous aluminum oxycarbonate are characterized by a BET specific surface area of less than 40 m2/g.

Abstract: A polymer composition of low gas permeability. The composition includes an exfoliated organically-modified clay, butyl rubber, and a polymeric exfoliant. A method for producing the butyl composition by dry mixing the butyl rubber with the exfoliated clay is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymer nanoparticles with a controlled architecture of nano-necklace, nano-cylinder, nano-ellipsoid, or nano-sphere. The polymer nanoparticle comprises a core polymerized from multiple-vinyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, a shell polymerized from alkyl-substituted styrene, and a polystyrene layer between the core and the shell. The present invention also provides a method of preparing the polymer nanoparticles and a rubber article such as a tire manufactured from a formulation comprising the polymer nanoparticles.

Abstract: A disk-like nanoparticle includes a core layer that comprises a cross-linked multi-vinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a shell layer that comprises tri-block copolymer chains, each having a first, a second, and a third block. The first and third blocks of the tri-block copolymer chains comprise vinyl aromatic monomer units and are crosslinked with the core. The second block comprises conjugated diene monomer units and comprises a top and bottom axial surface of the disk-like nanoparticle. In the case of a nanoparticle having A-B-C tri-block copolymer chains, the third block comprises a top and bottom axial surface of the disk-like nanoparticle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer/metal nano-composite. The nano-composite includes at least one copolymer chain having alkenyl monomer units and maleimide monomer units, and a nano-sized metal or inorganic crystal. It also provides a method of producing nano-sized metal/inorganic crystals in pure form. These nano-composites and nano-crystals can be useful as polymer fillers, tire rubber compounds, semiconductors, nano-magnets, catalysts, and quantum dots etc.

Abstract: The invention provides a hollow nano-particle comprising a crosslinked shell and a void core; and a preparation method thereof. The hollow nano-particle may be used in rubber composition, tire product, and pharmaceutical delivery system etc.

Abstract: A rubber formulation with good wet traction properties includes one or more elastomers and at least two types of particulate filler materials including at least one of which has a relatively high free surface energy in water (i.e., a supplemental filler). The formulation containing the supplemental filler(s) can provide a vulcanizate that has a British pendulum (skid) number that is at least ˜5% greater than that of a vulcanizate made from an essentially identical formulation that does not contain the supplemental filler(s). Also provided is a method for providing such a formulation which involves identifying one or more supplemental fillers having relatively high free surface energies in water, replacing at least 15% (by wt.) of one or more of the conventional particulate fillers in the formulation with an approximately equivalent volume of supplemental filler particles, and providing the modified formulation.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymer nanoparticles with a controlled architecture of nano-necklace, nano-cylinder, nano-ellipsoid, or nano-sphere. The polymer nanoparticle comprises a core polymerized from multiple-vinyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, a shell polymerized from alkyl-substituted styrene, and a polystyrene layer between the core and the shell. The present invention also provides a method of preparing the polymer nanoparticles and a rubber article such as a tire manufactured from a formulation comprising the polymer nanoparticles.

Abstract: A polymer composition of low gas permeability. The composition includes an exfoliated organically-modified clay, butyl rubber, and a polymeric exfoliant. A method for producing the butyl composition by dry mixing the butyl rubber with the exfoliated clay is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer/metal nano-composite. The nano-composite includes at least one copolymer chain having alkenyl monomer units and maleimide monomer units, and a nano-sized metal or inorganic crystal. It also provides a method of producing nano-sized metal/inorganic crystals in pure form. These nano-composites and nano-crystals can be useful as polymer fillers, tire rubber compounds, semiconductors, nano-magnets, catalysts, and quantum dots etc.

Abstract: A polymer nano-particle composition is provided. The composition includes polymer nano-particles having a poly(alkenylbenzene) core and a surface layer comprising a crystalline polyolefin. The nano-particles preferably have a mean average diameter of less than about 100 nm.