Abstract: Control agents that have a nitrogen-nitrogen bond covalently bonded to a thiocarbonyl moiety are provided for living-type free radical polymerization of a wide variety of monomers. These control agents provide superior properties for control of the polymerization and/or the properties of the polymers obtained and/or the monomers that may be polymerized. In some embodiments, a bulky group is pendant off the activated thiocarbonyl portion of the control agents. Multifunctional control agents provide the opportunity for a variety of structurally unique polymers, including block copolymers, stars and hyper-branched polymers.

Abstract: The present invention includes a composition comprising a coupled impact propylene copolymer. Preferably, the coupled impact propylene copolymer has an elastomeric phase that is present in an amount of at least 9 weight percent of the coupled propylene copolymer. Articles formed from the coupled propylene copolymer exhibit improved directionally balanced impact properties as compared with articles formed form comparable noncoupled impact propylene copolymers and also exhibit improved ductile-to-brittle transition temperatures compared with comparable noncoupled impact propylene copolymers. The invention also includes methods for making the coupled impact propylene copolymers using coupling agents, preferably, poly(sulfonyl azides). The invention further includes articles of manufacture that are made from the coupled impact propylene copolymer of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid golf ball which gives a superior shot feeling to the golfer and exhibits stabilized repulsion performance when it is hit at any head speed. The solid golf ball of the present invention comprises a core containing at least one layer which is molded by vulcanizing the rubber composition including: (a) a base rubber, (b) a co-crosslinking agent, (c) an organic peroxide, and (d) a polysulfide compound represented by the formula: wherein at least one of R1 to R5 and at least one of R6 to R10 are each Br, and n is an integer not less than 2.

Abstract: A golf ball consisting of a core and a cover. The core has a diameter of between about 1.54 and about 1.58 inches and a compression of between about 22 and about 50. Additionally, the core includes a polybutadiene rubber having a Mooney viscosity of less than about 50 and a halogenated organosulfur compound present in an amount of at least about 2.2 parts per hundred parts of polybutadiene rubber, the halogenated organosulfur compound having the formula: where R1-R5 are C1-C8 alkyl groups; halogen groups; thiol groups; carboxylated groups; sulfonated groups; or hydrogen; and a regrind filler present in an amount of from about 5 parts to about 26.5 parts per hundred parts of polybutadiene rubber. The cover has a thickness of between about 0.05 inches and about 0.1 inches and consisting essentially of a first ionomeric material and a second ionomeric material. The golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of at least about 0.813 when measured at 125 ft/s.

Abstract: It has been discovered that improved polystyrene products may be obtained by polymerizing styrene in the presence of at least one multifunctional initiator, at least one chain transfer agent, and at least one cross-linking agent. The presence of the multifunctional initiator tends to cause more branched structures in the polystyrene. A mathematical model that helps optimize the levels of these additives for given molecular weights, melt flow indices (MFIs) and zero shear viscosities (&eegr;0) has also been discovered.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball having at least one of a center, cover, or intermediate layer that includes a reaction product that includes a resilient polymer component, a free radical source, at one of a metallic mercaptobenzothiazole and optionally one or more of a cis-to-trans catalyst, a crosslinking agent, or a filler.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center comprising a polybutadiene having a molecular weight of greater than 200,000 and a resilience index of at least about 40; and a cover layer comprising a polyurethane composition formed from a prepolymer having no greater than 7.5 percent by weight unreacted isocyanate groups.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core having a diameter of between about 1.54 inches and about 1.57 inches, a compression of between about 70 and 80, and comprising a polybutadiene rubber composition comprising a magnesium salt of pentachlorothiophenol; a cover having a thickness of about 0.04 inches or less and comprising a castable polyurethane or polyurea composition; and an inner cover layer disposed between the core and the outer cover layer, the inner cover layer having a thickness of about 0.04 inches or less and selected from the group consisting of ionomers, vinyl resins, polyolefins, polyurethanes, polyureas, polyamides, acrylic resins, thermoplastics, polyphenylene oxide resins, thermoplastic polyesters, thermoplastic rubbers, partially-neutralized polymers, highly-neutralized polymers, and fully-neutralized polymers.

Abstract: A golf ball having an improved shot feel without deterioration in durability and flight performance is provided. The golf ball is constituted of at least two layers including a core and a cover. The core is formed of a rubber composition including 100 parts by weight of a rubber component, 0.01 to 0.5 parts by weight of sulfur and 0.05 to 5 parts by weight of an organic sulfur compound. An amount of deformation of the core under a load from an initial load of 98 N to a final load of 1274 N is 2.5 to 6.0 mm. A difference determined by subtracting a center hardness of the core from a surface hardness of the core is at least 25 in terms of JIS-C hardness.

Abstract: A golf ball and a method of making a golf ball that includes a center formed from a material including polybutadiene and having a high resilience, at least one cover layer formed of a material including polyurethane, and at least one wound layer of a tensioned material windings between the center and the cover. The polyurethane composition is formed from the reaction product of at least a prepolymer of a polyisocyanate and a polyol, and a diamine curing agent. The polybutadiene composition includes a butadiene polymer with a resilience index greater than about 40 and a weight average molecular weight greater than about 200,000. Such golf balls can have a coefficient of restitution that is optimized for low swing speed players. The wound layer of the present invention may be applied to golf balls having liquid or solid centers to achieve desired golf ball characteristics.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polymers is described, wherein at least one first ethylenically unsaturated monomer is subjected to a free radical polymerization in the presence of stable free radicals or sources of stable free radicals and of a compound having at least one free thiol group to give a polymer, and wherein the molar ratio of compound having a free thiol group to stable free radicals is from 0.05 to 1.1. The polymerization rate is substantially increased by the compound having a free thiol group.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, and at least one intermediate layer interposed between the cover and the core, wherein the cover is formed from a blend comprising of a segmented polyurethane elastomer copolymers of polyether (or ester)-ester and polyether (or ester)-amide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rubber composition for forming a core of a solid golf ball, the composition containing a base rubber (A); a filler (B); an organic peroxide (C); and a dry blend and/or a solvent slurry blend (D) of an unsaturated carboxylic acid metallic salt and a metal-containing organic sulfur compound represented by the following formula (1): (wherein X represents a halogen atom, each of m and n represents an integer of 0 to 5 inclusive, and M represents a divalent metallic atom). The rubber composition exhibits high curing rate, and can be cured within shorter time, whereby productivity of a core can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid golf ball which imparts a superior shot feeling to the golfer and exhibits stabilized repulsion performance when it is hit at any head speed. The solid golf ball of the present invention comprises a core containing at least one layer which is molded by vulcanizing the rubber composition including: (a) a base rubber, (b) a co-crosslinking agent, (c) an organic peroxide, and (d) a bromine-substituted thiophenol compound represented by the formula, or a monovalent or divalent metal salt thereof: (wherein at least one of R1 to R5 is Br).

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core is formed from a polymer composition comprising a mono or polyunsaturated long chain organic acid or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a three-piece solid golf ball having excellent flight performance and good shot feel when hit by an iron club, and, excellent controllability and good shot feel when hit by a driver. The present invention relates to a three-piece solid golf ball including a core, an intermediate layer formed on the core, and a cover covering the intermediate layer, wherein the core has a JIS-C surface hardness of 65 to 83 and a deformation of 2.8 to 5.3 mm when applying an initial load of 10 kgf to a final load of 130 kgf on the core, a JIS-C hardness of the core is substantially uniform from its center to surface, the intermediate layer has a Shore D hardness of 63 to 70, the cover has a Shore D hardness of 45 to 62, and a Shore D hardness difference between the intermediate layer and the cover is 3 to 20.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) rubber latex, and the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) latex is prepared by graft-polymerizing butadiene rubber with the monomers of acrlylonitrile and styrene through emulsion-polymerization, so that the ABS rubber latex of the present invention has high solid content. The method of ABS rubber latex of the present invention comprises the step of emulsion-polymerizing i) polybutadiene rubber latex; ii) aromatic vinyl compound; and iii) vinyl cyanide with the addition of a reactive emulsifier. According to the method of the present invention, the ABS rubber latex has high solid content due to a decrease in the amount of coagulated materials and film, which formed on the rubber latex during polymerization, and an increase in the production volume.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center comprising a polybutadiene having a molecular weight of greater than 200,000 and a resilience index of at least about 40; and a cover layer comprising a polyurethane composition formed from a prepolymer having no greater than 7.5 percent by weight unreacted isocyanate groups.

Abstract: A molding composition containing a graft polymer is disclosed. The graft is a product of a free-radical emulsion polymerization of resin-forming vinyl monomers in the presence of rubber present in latex form having a glass transition temperature of ≦0° C. using an initiator combination comprising a persulfate compound and a redox initiator system. The process for preparing the graft polymer entails adding the persulfate compound at the beginning of the graft polymerization reaction and a later addition of the redox initiator. The composition that features good gloss and flowability is suitable for the preparation of molded articles.

Abstract: A free radical polymerization process suitable for synthesizingpolymers is disclosed. The process utilizes novel sulfur based chain transfer agents and is widely compatible over a range of monomers and reaction conditions. Novel polymers having low polydispersity and predictable specific polymer architecture amd molecular weight are produced by the process. The polymers produced by the process are suitable for use as binders in automotive OEM and refinish coatings.

Abstract: An improved process for manufacturing a dual cure anaerobic/ultraviolet adhesive. The process includes the first step of mixing a polymerizable (meth)acrylate ester monomer, such as methacrylic acid, a chelating agent and an accelerator. The second step is heating the mixture sufficiently to provide anaerobic curing properties. Next, one or more photoinitiators are added to the composition. No chelating agent is added during the addition of the photoinitiators.

Abstract: The rubber composition for use in manufacturing a solid core of a multilayer-structured golf ball or a one-piece golf ball contains a co-curing agent and preferably an organic sulfur compound micro-encapsulated within a thermoplastic resin whose softening point is in a range of 80-250° C. This improves dispersibility of the co-curing agent and the organic sulfur compound within the rubber composition, and enables adjustment of a crosslinking pattern of rubber molecule main chains, so that rebound performance of the golf ball is improved.

Abstract: Thermoplastic molding compositions containing graft polymers produced with different initiator systems are disclosed. The compositions are distinguished by a combination of good toughness and reduced opacity. As a result, appreciably smaller quantities of pigment are needed to color the molding composition.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core comprising a metal salt of an unsaturated organic acid and a halogenated organosulfur compound or a metal salt thereof, and a cover; wherein the metal salt of an unsaturated organic acid is present in an amount of less than about 20 pph and the halogenated organosulfur compound or a metal salt thereof is present in an amount of less than about 2 pph.

Abstract: A free radical polymerization process suitable for synthesizing polymers is disclosed. The process utilizes novel sulfur based chain transfer agents and is widely compatible over a range of monomers and reaction conditions. Novel polymers having low polydispersity and predictably specific polymer architecture and molecular weight are produced by the process. The polymers produced by the process are suitable for use as binders in automotive OEM and refinish coatings.

Abstract: A golf ball formed of a core and a cover, wherein the core has a diameter of at least about 1.50 inches and comprises a polybutadiene rubber composition comprising at least about 2.2 parts per hundred of a halogenated organosulfur compound, and wherein the cover has a thickness of less than about 0.1 inches and comprises a polyurethane composition.

Abstract: A process for producing polypropylene having increased melt strength, the process comprising irradiating polypropylene with an electron beam having an energy of at least 5 MeV and with a radiation dose of from 5 to 100 kGray in the presence of a grafting agent for forming long chain branches on the polypropylene molecules.

Abstract: A 2-cyanoacrylate composition comprising a cyclic phenol sulfide derivative. The composition has a high curing rate and is excellent in moist-heat resistance, surface curability and clearance curability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid golf ball having exceptional rebound characteristics and flight performance, as well as good shot feel. The present invention relates to a solid golf ball comprising at least one layer of a core, and at least one layer of a cover formed on the core, wherein at least one layer including the inmost layer of the core is formed by vulcanizing a rubber composition comprising a base rubber, a co-crosslinking agent, a vulcanization initiator and a filler, the core has a center hardness in JIS-C hardness of 40 to 60, a surface hardness in JIS-C hardness of 80 to 95 and a hardness difference (B−A) between a hardness in JIS-C hardness at a distance of 5 mm from the center point of the core (B) and the center hardness (A) of not less than 1 to less than 10.

Abstract: Provided is a continuous vapor-phase polymerization method for producing polyolefins. In the method, polymer agglomerates and aggregates are prevented from being formed, and polymer deposition on the wall of reactors and around stirring blades is prevented. The method enables continuous and stable production of high-quality polyolefins, with no pipe line clogging. The method is characterized by a specific supply mode of feeding a catalyst activity retardant such as alcohol into polymerization reactors. Specifically, the retardant is fed into the vapor phase in a polymerization reactor and into the powder phase therein through its side wall. Preferably, the retardant is fed into the powder phase through a plurality of sites of the side wall of the reactor.

Abstract: Activated Supports, support-bound activators, strongly acidic supports, and silylating supports are provided; the activated support having the formula: 1

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid golf ball having exceptional rebound characteristics and flight performance, as well as good shot feel. The present invention relates to a solid golf ball comprising at least one layer of a core, and at least one layer of a cover formed on the core, wherein at least one of the layers of the core is formed by vulcanizing and press-molding a rubber composition comprising a base rubber, co-crosslinking agent, organic peroxide, filler and specific organic sulfur compound which contains substituent groups having a substituent constant of not less than 1.42.

Abstract: The invention provides reagents and methods for conjugating polymers specifically to the &agr;-amine of polypeptides in high yield. The invention provides monofunctional, bifunctional, and multifunctional PEGs and related polymers having a thioester moiety capable of specifically conjugating to the &agr;-amine of a polypeptide having a cysteine or histidine at the N-terminus. The invention provides active thioester derivatives of PEG that have suitable reactivity with an N-terminal cysteine or histidine residue of a polypeptide to produce an amide bond between the PEG and polypeptide. Use of these active esters to prepare PEG-proteins and PEG-peptides is described.

Abstract: Inherently tacky, pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions useful in marking film applications are provided. The compositions comprise polymer particles prepared by emulsion polymerization of at least one monomer mixture. The monomer mixture comprises at least one alkyl acrylate, the alkyl group of which has from about 4 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably in an amount of from about 73% to 90% by weight, at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid containing from about 3 to 5 carbon atoms, preferably in an amount of from about 2% to 12% by weight, and at least one hard monomer, preferably present in an amount of from about 5% to 15% by weight. The particles have a mean diameter of about 300 nm or less, as determined by laser light scattering. Preferably the hard monomer comprises a styrenic monomer, more preferably both a styrenic monomer and an alkyl methacrylate. In some embodiments, the compositions are prepared by sequential polymerization of the first and second monomer charges.

Abstract: A rubber composition of the invention comprises [1] a cross inked rubber particle component whose toluene-insolubles is 50% by weight or more and whose number mean particle size is 3 to 1000 nm and [2] a non-crosslinked rubber component whose toluene-insolubles is less than 20% by weight. This crosslinked rubber particle component is a polymer comprising at least one selected from (1) a conjugated diene unit, (2) a conjugated diene unit and an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated nitrile unit and (3) a conjugated diene unit and an acrylate unit as well as a monomer unit having at least 2 polymerizable unsaturated groups. The non-crosslinked rubber component described above is a polymer co rising at least one selected from (a) a conjugated diene unit, (b) (a) plus an aromatic vinyl unit, (c) (a) plus an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated nitrile unit, (d) (a) plus an acrylate unit and (e) an ethylene unit and an &agr;-olefin unit having 3 to 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A golf ball having an improved shot feel without deterioration in durability and flight performance is provided. The golf ball is constituted of at least two layers including a core and a cover. The core is formed of a rubber composition including 100 parts by weight of a rubber component, 0.01 to 0.5 parts by weight of sulfur and 0.05 to 5 parts by weight of an organic sulfur compound. An amount of deformation of the core under a load from an initial load of 98 N to a final load of 1274 N is 2.5 to 6.0 mm. A difference determined by subtracting a center hardness of the core from a surface hardness of the core is at least 25 in terms of JIS-C hardness.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing, by radical polymerisation, block polymers of general formula (1), which consists in contacting: an ethylenically unsaturated monomer of formula CYY′(═CW—CW′)a═CH2: and a precursor compound of general formula (II): a radical polymerization initiator.

Abstract: A rubber composition comprising (A) a base rubber, (B) a metal salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a mixture of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and zinc oxide, (C) an organic peroxide, and (D) a non-aromatic mercaptan and/or (E) a dialkyl disulfide whose alkyl has 3-10 carbon atoms is suitable for forming center cores of solid golf balls and wound golf balls and one-piece golf balls by a pressure molding process.

Abstract: In a process for preparing thermoplastic molding compositions by a) polymerizing, in aqueous emulsion, dienes, C1-C12-alkyl acrylates or mixtures of these, where from 0 to 30% by weight of these monomers may have been replaced by other copolymerizable monomers, and where from 0 to 10 by weight of these monomers may have been replaced by crosslinking monomers, to give a rubber latex with a glass transition temperature below −10° C.

Abstract: Multilayered moldings, which comprise a laminate structure of (A) a layer of a polyphenylene sulfide resin (hereinafter referred to as PPS resin) composition and (B) a layer of a thermoplastic resin except PPS resins and which are characterized in that the PPS resin composition constituting the layer (A) comprises (A1) 100 parts by weight of a PPS resin, (A2) from 1 to 80 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin having at least one functional group selected from epoxy groups, acid anhydride groups, carboxyl group and its salts, and carboxylate groups, and (A3) from 5 to 80 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin that is similar in kind to the thermoplastic resin constituting the layer (B), have good hot water resistance, antifreeze resistance, chemical resistance, heat resistance, abrasion resistance, gas permeation resistance and interlayer adhesion.

Abstract: The present invention includes a composition comprising a coupled impact propylene copolymer. Preferably, the coupled impact propylene copolymer has an elastomeric phase that is present in an amount of at least 9 weight percent of the coupled propylene copolymer. Articles formed from the coupled propylene copolymer exhibit improved directionally balanced impact properties as compared with articles formed form comparable noncoupled impact propylene copolymers and also exhibit improved ductile-to-brittle transition temperatures compared with comparable noncoupled impact propylene copolymers. The invention also includes methods for making the coupled impact propylene copolymers using coupling agents, preferably, poly(sulfonyl azides). The invention further includes articles of manufacture that are made from the coupled impact propylene copolymer of the invention.

Abstract: A low compression, resilient golf ball having a center and a cover, made from a polybutadiene reaction product having polybutadiene, a cis-to-trans catalyst including an organosulfur component, and a free radical source. The reaction product has a first dynamic stiffness measured at −50° C. that is less than about 130 percent of a second dynamic stiffness measured at 0° C. A multi-layer golf ball having a center, at least one intermediate layer disposed concentrically about the center, and a cover. At least a portion of at least one of the center, intermediate layer, or both, are made from a reaction product including polybutadiene having a cis-to-trans catalyst that includes at least one organosulfur component and a free radical source. The reaction product has a first dynamic stiffness measured at −50° C. that is less than about 130 percent of a second dynamic stiffness measured at 0° C.

Abstract: An adhesive comprising a combination of high molecular weight acrylic and/or methacrylic esters, which become co-polymerized with low molecular weight acrylic and/or methacrylic esters, and advantageously polymers, such as impact modifiers including graft co-polymer (core-shell and non core-shell) impact modifiers, carboxylic acids, elastomers, and sulfur bearing compositions, such as chlorosulfonated polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel compounds of which function as a sulfonyl linker between a target molecule and a polymer solid support, novel sulfonyl aziridine scaffold intermediates to optimize the regioselectivity associated with the nucleophilic substitution of these aziridines, a method for making derivatized aziridine, and a method for making derivatized amines.

Abstract: Graft copolymers with low molecular weight side chains are prepared by (1) irradiating a propylene polymer material in the absence of oxygen, (2) adding a controlled amount of oxygen to the irradiated polymer material so that the polymer is exposed to an amount of oxygen greater than 0.004% but less than 15% by volume at a temperature of 40° C. to 140° C., to produce an oxidized propylene polymer material containing greater than 1 mmol total peroxide per kilogram of propylene polymer material, (3) optionally, heating the oxidized propylene polymer material in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to a temperature of at least 80° C.

Abstract: An insert for a golf club, and method of forming said insert, comprising a material formed from the conversion reaction of an amount of polybutadiene, a free radical source, and a cis-to-trans catalyst, which reaction occurs at a sufficient temperature to form a polybutadiene reaction product which comprises an amount of trans-polybutadiene greater than the amount of trans-polybutadiene present before the conversion reaction. Further, a golf club having a toe and an opposite heel, a sole portion, and an opposite top portion, a forwardly facing exposed strike face and an opposite rearwardly facing exposed back face portion, comprising a recess defined in the strike face, the recess having a bottom surface spaced from the back face portion and a side wall surface extending between the bottom surface and the strike face for disposing the insert.

Abstract: This invention relates to star-branched anionic acrylate polymers synthesized by the free radical polymerization of a monomer(s) containing anionic functionality in the presence of chain-transfer agents containing multiple mercapto groups.

Abstract: An elastic-thermoplastic graft polymer prepared by a multi-stage free radical polymerization is described. The elastic-thermoplastic graft polymer is prepared by polymerizing (i) one or more monomers containing vinyl groups, and (ii) at least one molecular weight regulating compound, in the presence of (iii) at least one rubber in latex form. The ratio of monomers (M) to the molecular weight regulating compound (MWR) is altered throughout the various stages of the polymerization method. The M:MWR ratio is: from 50:1 to 400:1 in the first stage; from 100:1 to 800:1 in the second stage; and from 200:1 to 2000:1 in the third stage of the polymerization. In at least one further reaction stage of the polymerization, the monomers, in the absence of the molecular weight regulating compound, are polymerized in the presence of the rubber. This further reaction stage occurs before the first stage and/or after the third stage of the polymerization.

Abstract: A low compression, resilient golf ball having a center including a material formed from the conversion reaction of sufficient amounts of polybutadiene, a free radical source, and a cis-to-trans catalyst to convert a portion of cis-isomer to trans-isomer in the polybutadiene, which reaction occurs at a sufficient temperature to form the material that contains trans-isomer and cis-isomer, wherein said material has an amount of trans-isomer greater than the amount of trans-isomer present before the conversion reaction, at least one intermediate layer disposed about the center and including a resilient polymer component and a reinforcing polymer component present in an amount sufficient to provide an uncrosslinked first mixture having a rigidity as determined by a flexural modulus greater than about 3.5 MPa, wherein the center and each intermediate layer together form the core, and a cover being disposed about the core, wherein the golf ball has a diameter of at least about 1.68 inches.

Abstract: Control agents that have a nitrogen—nitrogen bond in a cyclic ring covalently bonded to a thiocarbonyl moiety are provided for living-type free radical polymerization without a bimodal molecular weight distribution at high monomer conversions. These control agents provide superior properties for the production of block polymers having narrow molecular weight distributions.