Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a dual core assembly and a cover layer. The dual core comprises an interior spherical center component formed from a thermoset polymeric material, a thermoplastic polymeric material, or combinations thereof. The center component comprises one or more density adjusting filler materials dispersed throughout the polymeric material. The dual core also comprises a core layer disposed about the center component, formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof. The present invention golf ball may further comprise an outer core layer that surrounds the dual core. The cover layer is either a single cover layer or a multi-layer cover assembly and preferably includes a polyurethane material. It is preferred that the inner and outer cover layers differ in hardness by at least 5 on the Shore D scale.

Abstract: A golf ball is described having a core with a multi-layer cover that includes one or more polyurethane materials and which exhibits a Shore D hardness of at least 60. The one or more polyurethane materials may be utilized in one, all, or in only some of the individual cover layers that form the multi-layer cover.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a dual core component, an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. The dual core comprises an interior spherical center component formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof. The dual core also comprises a core layer disposed about the center component, formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof. The one or more polyurethane layers are preferably formed via a reaction injection molding (RIM) technique. The inner cover layer is relatively soft and preferably comprises an ionomer or ionomer blend. The outer cover layer is relatively hard and comprises a hard polyurethane. The resulting multi-layered golf ball of the present invention provides for enhanced distance without sacrificing playability or durability when compared to known multi-layer golf balls.

Abstract: A unique set of preferred embodiment golf balls is disclosed as follows. In one aspect, a multi-layer golf ball utilizes a particular blend of ionomers in either or both of the cover layers. Preferably, the blend includes a minor percentage of high acid ionomers with a major percentage of low acid ionomers. In another embodiment, golf balls having relatively thin multi-layer cover assemblies are provided. The thicknesses of these cover layer assemblies range from about 0.015 inches to about 0.045 inches. Also, cover assemblies utilizing one or more thermoplastic polyurethanes are disclosed. The multi-layer core assembly used in the golf balls preferably exhibits a PGA compression of less than 85.

Abstract: New aerogels are disclosed which comprise silica, at least one organic polymer having polar functional groups, and at least one metal ion. Also disclosed are methods for making such aerogels. The present invention further concerns printable objects comprising these aerogels, specifically when the print media are imaged by the absorption of liquid and the spatial localization of pigments or dyes.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for making ink-jet recording media using hot-melt extrudable ink-receptive compositions. The melt-extrudable compositions comprise a blend of a melt-extrudable polyvinyl alcohol composition and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), a hydrolyzed copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, ethylene/acrylic acid copolymers or ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers. The invention also encompasses media made by such methods. The media can be used to form high quality, multicolored images.

Abstract: This invention is directed to novel silica compositions, metal silicates, germanosilicates, and metal germanosilicates, and patterned objects and films comprising the same. It also includes methods and compositions for making these films and patterned objects on substrates, ranging from silicon wafers to optical fibers, silica, sapphire, quartz and borosilicate glass. These methods incorporate the use of certain precursor compositions, procedures for their application to a substrate and subsequent treatment to produce a patterned object and/or the conversion to glass structures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf ball comprising one or more fast-chemical-reaction-produced components, such as a component which comprises a reaction injection molded polyurethane material. A process of making a golf ball by forming at least one core and/or cover component of the ball by mixing two or more reactants that react and form a reaction product with a flex modulus of 1 to 310 kpsi, with a setting time of about 30 seconds or less, the component having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches and a mold release time of 2 minutes or less is also disclosed. In one preferred form of the invention, excess polyurethane from forming golf ball covers is recycled by using it to form golf ball cores.

Abstract: New aerogels are disclosed which comprise silica, at least one organic polymer having polar functional groups, and at least one metal ion. Also disclosed are methods for making such aerogels and for making them as substantially transparent objects. In addition, gas detectors, liquid and gas absorbing objects, and optical devices made using these aerogels are disclosed. The present invention concerns optical elements which are substantially transparent and exhibit low refractive indices. The invention also relates to the optical properties of the metal-containing ions, the silica and polymer which they comprise. The optical elements can be passive or they can be active in response to electromagnetic radiation. The invention further relates to detectors of reactive and absorbate gases based on the physical changes exhibited by the aerogels upon reacting with or absorbing such gases.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel vitreous microlenses and optical filters and methods for their formation. This includes formation of inorganic oxide microlenses and optical filters on other objects, including the production of oxide glasses in various shapes. For example, the present invention is directed to the use of precursor materials such as carboxylated polysiloxanes, including carboxylated polygermanosiloxanes in the hydrogen or fully or partially metal ion exchanged forms to produce the vitreous microlenses and optical filters of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-layer golf ball having a soft outer cover. The golf ball has an inner cover layer with a Shore D hardness of 60 or more, and an outer cover with a Shore D hardness of 53 or less. In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the outer cover comprises at least 75% of a soft, ionomeric copolymer formed from a polyolefin, an unsaturated carboxylic acid, and a monomer of the acrylate ester class. The golf ball of the invention has exceptionally soft feel and high spin rates on short shots of 80 yards or less and, particularly, 40 yards or less, while maintaining good distance and average spin on full shots.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming germanium-containing silicones in which germanium is incorporated into the siloxane backbone with Ge—O—Si bond or onto a carboxylated siloxane in a form such as the germanium ester form, which has a COOGe bond. The germanium mole content ranges from 1 mol % to 50 mol %. The groups attached to silicon and/or germanium include alkyl, alkenyl, and carboxyalkyl and their derivatives. In the materials with pendant carboxylic acid groups, the protons can be replaced by metal ions such as an alkali, alkaline earth, transition metal, or rare earth metal ions. The materials can be crossinked, with the crosslinking being initiated by ultraviolet light or other means with or without a photoinitiator.

Abstract: This invention concerns the joinder of optical waveguide structures and their substrates, methods for joining, attaching or connecting the waveguide structures, and/or materials which can be utilized for constructing such attachments or connections. The invention is also directed to the attachment of alternative silicon and germanium based optical components, methods for making the attachment, and materials utilized to produce the attachment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of providing protection against an unexpected change in value of an intellectual property asset, which includes:(a). obtaining a description of at least one intellectual property asset of a first party,(b). determining a value of the at least one intellectual property asset,(c). determining a cost of providing compensation for an unexpected change in value of the at least one intellectual property asset, and(d). offering to provide compensation for at least a portion of any unexpected change in value of the at least one intellectual property asset to a person with an interest in the first party. A corresponding data processing system, insurance proposal form and computer-generated insurance policy form also are disclosed. The method, system and forms of the invention can be used, for example, as part of a "due diligence" analysis in the context of the purchase and/or sale of intellectual property assets.

Abstract: Metallic salts of organic charge-transfer agents, such as TCNQ, TNAP, TCNE and DDQ and their derivatives, can be processed by an electron beam for a variety of useful electronic and optical applications. The metallic charge transfer salts can be used to deposit high resolution conductive lines directly without developing solutions or subsequent metallization steps. The compounds can also be employed in the conventional manner as resists for doping (i.e., ion diffusion or implantation) and to diffuse metals into substrates. In particular, elecronic devices, optical devices and image-storage devices are disclosed which can be formed by simple electron beam processed of metal charge-transfer salt films deposited on substrates.

Abstract: Metallic salts of organic charge-transfer agents, such as TCNQ, TNAP, TCNE and DDQ and their derivatives, can be processed by an electron beam for a variety of useful electronic and optical applications. The metallic charge transfer salts can be used to deposit high resolution conductive lines directly without developing solutions or subsequent metallization steps. The compounds can also be employed in the conventional manner as resists for doping (i.e., ion diffusion or implantation) and to diffuse metals into substrates. In particular, electronic devices, optical devices and image-storage devices are disclosed which can be formed by simple electron beam processed of metal charge-transfer salt films deposited on substrates.