United States Patent | 5,281,653 |
Thomann, et. al. | Jan. 25, 1994 |
Inventors: | Thomann; Hans (Bedminster, NJ); Brant; Patrick (Seabrook, TX); Dismukes; John P. (Annandale, NJ); Lohse; David J. (Bridgewater, NJ); Hwang; Jyi-Faa (Bethlehem, PA); Kresge; Edward N. (Watchung, NJ). |
Assignee: | Exxon Research and Engineering Company (Florham Park, NJ). |
Appl. No.: | 797,525 |
Filed: | Nov. 25, 1991 |
Intl. Cl.: | C08K 5/01; |
U.S. Cl.: | 524/490.; 524/495.; |
Field of Search: | 490;495;496 |
5,114,477 | May, 1992 | Mort et al. | 106/ 20 |
5,178,980 | Jan., 1993 | Mort et al. | 430/ 71 |
EP Search Report dated Mar. 8, 1993 for Application No. 92310772.6.
Amato, "Doing Chemistry in the Round", Science, vol. 254, No. 5028, Oct. 4, 1991, pp. 30-31.
Edelson, Edward; "Buckyball-The Magic Molecule", Popular Science, pp. 52-57, 87, Aug. 1991.
The present invention relates to novel compositions of matter comprising fullerenes and polymers, wherein the fullerenes are combined with the polymer in an amount sufficient to result in a change or modification in the viscoelastic properties of the resulting composition from that of the unmodified polymer typically within the range of from about 0.01 wt. % to about 85 wt. %. Also included in the present invention is the process for making the novel fullerene-polymer compositions and the products produced by the process disclosed therein. The novel compositions show changes in the viscoelastic properties in comparison to the unmodified polymer, and hence, have utility in any application in which the unmodified polymer may be used, but wherein the application would benefit from the resulting change in the viscoelastic properties.