Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc.

University of Connecticut

Callaway Golf Company

Lisco, Inc.

World Properties, Inc.

Shell Oil Comapny

Robert A Weiss

Michael J Sullivan

Can Erkey

Thomas J Kennedy, Iii

Michael John Tzivanis

David M Melanson

William M Risen, Jr

Michelle A Bellinger

Michael D Bessette

Yueping Fu

Poh Poh Gan

Carl Lesley Willis

William P Gergen

Richard Gelles

Lorelle A Pottick

Jaroslav G Balas

Suresh Shenoy

Daniel Cohen

Nikhil N Bhiwankar

Polymer-clay nanocomposites and methods of making the same are provided. In an embodiment, a polymer-clay nanocomposite comprises a non-metal salt of an ionomer and a nanostructured layered clay. An example of the ionomer is a tetra-octyl ammonium salt of sulfonated polystyrene, and an example of the clay is sodium-montmorillonite.

Polymer-clay nanocomposites and methods of making the same

Disclosed is a process to increase adhesion between two adjacent layers. The process comprises roughening the surface of one layer followed by chlorination of the roughened surface and joining of the layers, or treating the surface of one layer with a silicone-based adhesion promoter and joining the layers. In one preferred embodiment the process comprises roughening the surface of one layer, followed by chlorination of the roughened surface, joining of the layers and post-treatment of the molded layers at an elevated temperature for a predetermined time.

Adhesion process

A conductive polymer composite, comprising a polymer and polypyrrole and derivatives thereof. The composite is manufactured by first diffusing an oxidant such as iodine into the polymer, and then diffusing pyrrole or a pyrrole derivative vapor into the impregnated polymer, resulting in an in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole at the oxidant site. The conductivity of the composite foam can be effectively controlled between 10to 10S/cm, inclusive.

Conductive elastomeric foams and method of manufacture thereof

The present invention is directed to golf ball cover compositions containing metal cation neutralized carboxylic acid based copolymers and/or alkali metal cation neutralized ethylene copolymers such as ethylene alkyl acrylates. Golf balls produced with the cover molded thereon exhibit desired properties of distance and high coefficient of restitution without substantially sacrificing and/or improving characteristics like playability and durability when compared to existing ionomeric resin covers.

Golf ball cover compositions

The present invention is directed to golf ball cover compositions containing blends of high or low carboxylic acid based copolymers and ethylene copolymers such as ethylene alkyl acrylates. The carboxylic acid groups of the blends are neutralized with metal cations. Golf balls produced with the cover molded thereon exhibit desired properties of distance and high coefficient of restitution without substantially sacrificing and/or improving characteristics like playability and durability when compared to existing covers comprising ionomeric resin blends.

A conductive elastomeric foam composite is presented, comprising an elastomer foam and polypyrrole, thiophene, or aniline and derivatives thereof. The foam is manufactured by first diffusing an oxidant into the dense polymer phase of a solvent-swollen foam and then diffusing pyrrole or pyrrole derivative vapor or solution into the dried foam, resulting in an in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole at the oxidant site. Only about 5 wt % of conductive polymer is required for observing an insulator to conductor transition. The conductivity of the composite foam can be effectively controlled between 10,and 10,S/cm by varying either the amount of oxidant used and/or the copolymer composition.

Conductive elastomeric foams by in-situ vapor phase polymerization of pyrroles

A conductive elastomeric foam composite is presented, comprising an elastomer foam and polypyrrole, thiophene, or aniline and derivatives thereof. The foam is manufactured by first diffusing an oxidant into the dense polymer phase of a solvent-swollen foam and then diffusing pyrrole or pyrrole derivative vapor or solution into the dried foam, resulting in an in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole at the oxidant site. Only about 5 wt % of conductive polymer is required for observing an insulator to conductor transition. The conductivity of the composite foam can be effectively controlled between 10.sup.-7 and 10.sup.-1 S/cm by varying either the amount of oxidant used and/or the copolymer composition.

Conductive elastomeric foams by in-situ vapor phase polymerization of

A compatibilizer for polymer blends is presented. The compatibilizer comprises a sulfonated polystyrene and may be used to prepare miscible blends of the sulfonated polystyrene with two or more polymers having polar groups, e.g., polyamides, polyethers, polyesters, polysulfones and polyamines. The sulfonated polystyrene compatibilizer may be used in conjunction with a counterion.

Compatibilizer for polymer blends and the polymer blends derived

A thermoplastic polymer which possesses excellent mechanical properties at both room and elevated temperatures is obtained by reacting an acyl sulfate with a block copolymer composed of at least one conjugated diene block and one alkenyl arene block. The block copolymer is first selectively hydrogenated and thereafter modified by grafting sulfonic acid functional groups primarily in the alkenyl arene blocks. The mechanical properties may be varied and controlled by varying the degree of functionalization (amount of sulfonation), and the degree of neutralization of the sulfonic acid groups to metal sulfonate salts.

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Mansfield Center, CT, United States of America

Robert A Weiss