A norbornene resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic norbornene polymer and 1 to 150 parts by weight of a thermosetting resin.

The present invention relates to a norbornene polymer composition comprising a norbornene polymer and a thermosetting resin as essential components, moldings formed from the composition, prepregs with a reinforcing base material such as a glass cloth impregnated with the composition, laminates with such prepregs laminated on each other, laminates with a film formed of the composition on a metal layer.
The norbornene polymer composition according to the present invention is excellent in electrical properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent and also in peel strength (adhesion property) to metal foils as electrical conductors.
With the advancement of techniques, there are strong demands for achieving the speeding up and high reliability of arithmetic processing, and high-density packaging in circuits mounted in precision apparatus such as electronic computers and communication machines, and so it is advanced to provide circuit boards with high performance such as multi-layer structure, high precision and minute processing.
Such a circuit board is produced by impregnating a reinforcing base material, for example, a glass cloth with a resin varnish, drying the varnish to form a sheet (prepreg) in a semi-cured state, laying up a copper foil or outer copper-clad sheet, the prepreg, inner copper-clad sheet, and the like in that order between mirror plates and then hot-pressing the resultant laminate to completely cure the resin. As a resin material, there has heretofore been used a phenol resin, epoxy resin, polyimide resin, fluororesin, polybutadiene resin or the like.
However, the dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent of thermosetting resins such as the phenol resin, epoxy resin and polyimide resin are generally as high as at least 4.0 and at least 0.01, respectively, and so their electrical properties are insufficient. Therefore, circuit boards making use of these thermosetting resins have been difficult to achieve the speeding up and high reliability of arithmetic processing.
On the other hand, norbornene polymers having repeating units derived from a norbornene monomer are known to be suitable for use as various kinds of moldings, sealing materials for electronic parts, insulating materials and the like, since they have various properties such as low moisture-absorption property and excellent dielectric properties and scarcely contain impurities. For example, it has been proposed to use a hydrogenated product of an addition copolymer of tetracyclododecene and ethylene, or a ring-opening polymer of methylmethoxy-carbonyltetracyclododecene as an insulating material for circuit boards or a sealing material for electronic parts. In particular, norbornene (co)polymers obtained by addition polymerizing a norbornene monomer have excellent heat resistance and hence are suitable for use as sealing materials, insulating materials and the like for electronic parts.
However, the norbornene polymers have a demerit that their adhesion properties to metals are insufficient. Therefore, they have involved a problem that a film formed of the norbornene polymer separates from a metal layer or cracks.
It has heretofore been proposed to produce a circuit board excellent in electrical properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent by crosslinking a thermoplastic norbornene polymer with an organic peroxide. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 34924/1987 discloses a process for obtaining a crosslinked sheet, comprising kneading an norbornene copolymer obtained by addition polymerization of a norbornene type cyclic olefin and ethylene, and a crosslinking aid, grinding the resultant mixture, impregnating the ground mixture with a solution of an organic peroxide, removing the solution and then press molding it.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 248164/1994 discloses a process in which a norbornene resin, an organic peroxide, a crosslinking aid and a flame retardant are uniformly dispersed in a solvent, and the solvent is then removed to crosslinking the resin by heating. This publication discloses Examples wherein laminated sheets and prepregs were produced by this process.
However, these conventional processes have involved a problem that even when a metal foil such as a copper foil is laminated on the resultant sheet or prepreg, peel strength (adhesion property) between the sheet or prepreg and the metal foil is insufficient.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a norbornene polymer composition excellent in electrical properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent and also in adhesion property to metals.
Another object of the present invention is to provide various kinds of moldings, sheets, films, prepregs, and laminates suitable for use as circuit boards and the like using the norbornene polymer composition having such excellent properties.
The present inventors have carried out an extensive investigation with a view toward overcoming the above-described problems involved in the prior art. As a result, it has been found that when a norbornene polymer composition obtained by blending a specific amount of a thermosetting resin with a thermoplastic norbornene polymer is used to crosslink the composition, moldings, prepregs, laminates and the like excellent in electrical properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent and adhesion property to metals are obtained.
When a modified norbornene polymer obtained by introducing a polar group such as an epoxy, carboxyl or hydroxyl group into an unmodified norbornene polymer by, for example, a graft-modifying process is used as the norbornene polymer, its compatibility with the thermosetting resin and the adhesion property of the resulting composition to metals can be improved. When a polymer having a high glass transition temperature is used as the norbornene polymer, the heat resistance, such as soldering heat resistance, of the resulting composition can be improved. The present invention has been led to completion on the basis of these findings.
According to the present invention, there is thus provided a norbornene resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic norbornene polymer and 1 to 150 parts by weight of a thermosetting resin.
According to the present invention, there are also provided (1) a molding formed from such a composition, (2) a prepreg with a reinforcing base material impregnated with the composition, (3) a laminate obtained by laminating sheet-like moldings and/or prepregs obtained with the composition on one another and crosslinking them, (4) a laminate with a film formed of the composition laminated on a metal layer, and the like.
Thermoplastic Norbornene Polymer:
The thermoplastic norbornene polymer useful in the practice of the present invention is a publicly known polymer disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 14882/1991, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 122137/1991, or the like. Specific examples thereof include hydrogenated products of ring-opening polymers of a norbornene monomer, addition polymers of a norbornene monomer, addition polymers of a norbornene monomer and another monomer (for example, olefin), and modified products of these polymers. As the modified products, are preferred those obtained by introducing a polar group such as an epoxy, carboxyl or hydroxyl group into these norbornene polymers, from the viewpoints of their compatibility with thermosetting resins and the adhesion property of the resulting compositions to metals.
(1) Monomer:
Norbornene monomer are publicly known compounds disclosed in the above-described publications and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 227424/1990 and 276842/1990, etc. Examples thereof include polycyclic hydrocarbons having a norbornene structure; alkyl-, alkenyl-, alkylidene- or aromatic-substituted derivatives thereof; derivatives substituted by a polar group such as a halogen, hydroxyl group, ester group, alkoxy group, cyano group, amide group, imide group or silyl group; alkyl-, alkenyl, alkylidene- or aromatic-substituted derivatives of the norbornene monomers having such a polar group; etc. Of these, the polycyclic hydrocarbons having a norbornene structure, and alkyl-, alkenyl, alkylidene- or aromatic-substituted derivatives thereof are preferred in that they are particularly excellent in chemical resistance and moisture resistance. More specifically, the following norbornene monomers may be mentioned.
Specific examples of the norbornene monomers include 5-methyl-2-norbornene, 5,5-dimethyl-2-norbornene, 5-ethyl-2-norbornene, 5-butyl-2-norbornene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, 5-methoxycarbonyl-2-norbornene, 5-cyano-2-norbornene, 5-methyl-5-methoxycarbonyl-2-norbornene, 5-phenyl-2-norbornene, 5-phenyl-5-methyl-2-norbornene; dicyclopentadiene and its derivatives substituted like the above, such as 2,3-dihydrodicyclopentadiene; dimethanooctahydronaphthalene and its derivatives substituted like the above, such as 6-methyl-1,4:5,8-dimethano-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene, 6-ethyl-1,4:5,8-dimethano-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene, 6-ethylidene-1,4:5,8-dimethano-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene, 6-chloro-1,4:5,8-dimethano-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene, 6-cyano-1,4:5,8-dimethano-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene, 6-pyridyl-1,4:5,8-dimethano-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene and 6-methoxycarbonyl-1,4:5,8-dimethano-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydronaphthalene; addition products of cyclopentadiene and tetrahydroindene, and their derivatives substituted like the above, such as 1,4-dimethano-1,4,4a,4b,5,8,8a,9a-octahydrofluorene and 5,8-methano-1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-2,3-cyclopentadieno-naphthalene; and oligomers of cyclopentadiene and their derivatives substituted like the above, such as 4,9:5,8-dimethano-3a,4,4a,5,8,8a,9,9a-octahydro-1H-benzoindene and 4,11:5,10:6,9-trimethano-3a,4,4a,5,5a,6,9,9a,10,10a,11, 11a-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopentaanthracene.
These norbornene monomers may be used either singly or in any combination thereof. The content of bound norbornene monomer unit in the thermoplastic norbornene polymer is suitably selected as necessary for the end application intended. However, it is generally at least 30 wt. %, preferably at least 50 wt. %. It is particularly preferred that the content be at least 70 wt. %, since the heat resistance of such a polymer is high.
Since norbornene addition polymers are easy to be provided as polymers having excellent heat resistance, such a norbornene addition polymer is preferably used in field of which high soldering heat resistance is required. Examples of a norbornene monomer or substituted norbornene monomer used in preparing a norbornene addition polymer include (a) norbornene monomers having no other unsaturated bond than a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond participating in a polymerization reaction, (b) norbornene monomers having another unsaturated bond in addition to a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond participating in a polymerization reaction, (c) norbornene monomers having an aromatic ring, and (d) norbornene monomers having a polar group.
Respective examples of norbornene monomers belonging to the monomers (a) to (d) are mentioned though those mentioned above may be included.
(a) Specific examples of the norbornene monomers having no other unsaturated bond than a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond participating in a polymerization reaction include bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivatives such as bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (i.e., norbornene), 5-methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (i.e., 5-methyl-2-norbornene), 5-ethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 5-butylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 5-hexylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and 5-decylbicyclo-[2.2.1]hept-2-ene; tetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene derivatives such as tetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene, 8-methyltetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene and 8-ethyltetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene; tricyclo[4.3.12,5.0]-dec-3-ene; and bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivatives having a cyclic substituent group, such as 5-cyclohexylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and 5-cyclopentylbicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-ene.
(b) Specific examples of the norbornene monomers having another unsaturated bond in addition to a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond participating in a polymerization reaction include bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivatives having an unsaturated bond outside its ring, such as 5-ethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 5-vinylbicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-ene and 5-propenylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene; tetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10 .0]-dodec-3-ene derivatives having an unsaturated bond outside its ring, such as 8-methylidenetetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene, 8-ethylidenetetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene, 8-vinyltetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene and 8-propenyltetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene; tricyclo[4.3.12,5.0]-dec-3,7-diene; and bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivatives having a cyclic substituent group with an unsaturated bond, such as 5-cyclohexenylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and 5-cyclopentenylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene.
(c) Specific examples of the norbornene monomers having an aromatic ring include 5-phenylbicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-ene, tetracyclo[6.5.12,5.01,6.08,13]tridec-3,8,10,12-tetraene (i.e., 1,4-methano-1,4,4a,9a-tetrahydrofluorene) and tetracyclo[6.5.12,5.01,6.08,13]tetradec-3,8,10,12-tetraene (i.e., 1,4-methano-1,4,4a,5,10,10a-hexahydroanthracene).
(d) Specific examples of the norbornene monomers having a polar group include bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivatives having at least one substituent group containing an oxygen atom, such as 5-methoxycarbonylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 5-ethoxycarbonylbicyclo-[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 5-methyl-5-methoxycarbonylbicyclo-[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 5-methyl-5-ethoxycarbonylbicyclo-[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enyl 2-methylpropionate, bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enyl 2-methyloctanoate, bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-5,6-dicarboxylic acid anhydride, 5-hydroxymethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 5,6-di(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 5-hydroxymethyl-isopropylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and 5,6-dicarboxybicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene; tetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene derivatives having at least one substituent group containing an oxygen atom, such as 8-methoxycarbonyltetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene, 8-methyl-8-methoxycarbonyltetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene, 8-hydroxymethyltetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene and 8-carbonyltetracyclo[4.4.12,5.17,10.0]-dodec-3-ene; and bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene derivatives having at least one substituent group containing a nitrogen atom, such as 5-cyanobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-5,6-dicarboxylic acid imide.
These norbornene monomers may be used either singly or in any combination thereof. In the case where it is intended to improve compatibility with thermosetting resins, it is preferred that a norbornene monomer having an aromatic ring or polar group be addition(co)polymerized in a proportion of 5 to 100 mol %.
As other monomers copolymerizable with the norbornene monomers, may be mentioned various kinds of vinyl compounds. Examples of the vinyl compounds include ethylenes or xcex1-olefins having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 3-ethyl-1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-hexene, 4,4-dimethyl-1-hexene, 4,4-dimethyl-1-pentene, 4-ethyl-1-hexene, 3-ethyl-1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene and 1-eicosene; cycloolefins such as cyclobutene, cyclopentene, cyclohexene, 3,4-dimethylcyclopentene, 3-methylcyclohexene, 2-(2-methylbutyl)-1-cyclohexene, cyclooctene and 3a,5,6,7a-tetrahydro-4,7-methano-1H-indene; non-conjugated dienes such as 1,4-hexadiene, 4-methyl-1,4-hexadiene, 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene and 1,7-octadiene; styrene and derivatives thereof such as styrene, xcex1-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, p-chlorostyrene and vinylnaphthalene; conjugated dienes such as 1,3-butadiene and isoprene; and vinyl ethers such as ethyl vinyl ether and isobutyl vinyl ether. These vinyl compounds may be used either singly or in any combination thereof. For example, other compounds such as carbon monoxide may also be used as comonomers so far as they are copolymerizable with the norbornene monomers.
In the case where it is intended to improve compatibility with thermosetting resins, it is preferred that the norbornene monomer and styrene or a derivative thereof be addition-copolymerized.
It is preferred from the viewpoint of heat resistance that a proportion of a repeating unit derived from the norbornene monomer in the addition copolymer be controlled to preferably at least 40 mol %, more preferably at least 50 mol % based on the total repeating unit of the copolymer.
(2) Polymerization Process:
No particular limitation is imposed on the polymerization process of the norbornene monomer, or the norbornene monomer and the monomer copolymerizable therewith, and a hydrogenation process. The polymerization and hydrogenation may be conducted in accordance with any known processes.
The ring-opening polymerization of the norbornene monomer is conducted by using a ring-opening polymerization catalyst. As the ring-opening polymerization catalyst, may be used a catalyst system composed of a halide, nitrate or acetylacetone compound of a metal selected from among ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum, and a reducing agent; a catalyst system composed of a halide or acetylacetone compound of a metal selected from among titanium, vanadium, zirconium, tungsten and molybdenum, and an organoaluminum compound; or the like.
A third component can be added to the above-described catalyst systems to improve polymerization activity and selectivity of ring-opening polymerization. Specific examples of the third component include molecular oxygen, alcohols, ethers, peroxides, carboxylic acids, acid anhydrides, acid chlorides, esters, ketones, nitrogen-containing compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, halogen-containing compounds, molecular iodine and other Lewis acids. As the nitrogen-containing compounds, are preferred aliphatic or aromatic tertiary amines. Specific examples thereof include triethylamine, dimethylaniline, tri-n-butylamine, pyridine and xcex1-picoline.
The ring-opening polymerization may be conducted without using any solvent. However, the polymerization may be carried out in an inert organic solvent. Examples of the solvent include aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene and xylene; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as n-pentane, hexane and heptane; alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane; and halogenated hydrocarbons such as styrene dichloride, dichloroethane, dichloroethylene, tetrachloroethane, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene and trichlorobenzene.
The polymerization is conducted at a temperature of generally xe2x88x9250xc2x0 C. to 100xc2x0 C., preferably xe2x88x9230xc2x0 C. to 80xc2x0 C., more preferably xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C. to 60xc2x0 C. under pressure of generally 0 to 50 kg/cm2, preferably 0 to 20 kg/cm2.
As an example of the addition polymerization of the norbornene monomers, or the norbornene monomer and another monomer, may be mentioned a process comprising copolymerizing the monomer components in a hydrocarbon solvent or under conditions that no solvent is present, in the presence of a catalyst composed of a vanadium compound and an organoaluminum compound, preferably a halogen-containing organoaluminum compound, which are soluble in the solvent or the norbornene monomers. Examples of the hydrocarbon solvent include aliphatic hydrocarbon such as hexane, heptane, octane and kerosene; alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane; and aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene and xylene.
The polymerization is conducted at a temperature of generally xe2x88x9250xc2x0 C. to 100xc2x0 C., preferably xe2x88x9230xc2x0 C. to 80xc2x0 C., more preferably xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C. to 60xc2x0 C. under pressure of generally 0 to 50 kg/cm2, preferably 0 to 20 kg/cm2.
(3) Hydrogenation:
A hydrogenated product (hydride) of a norbornene polymer can be obtained by hydrogenating a norbornene polymer having unsaturated bonds with molecular hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst in accordance with a method known per se in the art.
Examples of the hydrogenation catalyst include catalysts composed of a combination of a transition metal compound and an alkyl metal compound, for examples, combinations of cobalt acetate/triethylaluminum, nickel acetylacetonate/triisobutylaluminum, titanocene dichloride/n-butyllithium, zirconocene dichloride/sec-butyllithium, tetrabutoxytitanate/dimethylmagnesium, etc.
The hydrogenation reaction is generally carried out in an inert organic solvent. The organic solvent is preferably a hydrocarbon solvent because it has the excellent ability to dissolve a hydrogenated product formed therein. A cyclic hydrocarbon solvent is more preferred. Examples of such a hydrocarbon solvent include aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as n-pentane and hexane; alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane and decalin; and ethers such as tetrahydrofuran and ethylene glycol dimethyl ether. At least two of these solvents may also be used in combination. The solvent may be generally the same as that used in the polymerization reaction, and so it is only necessity to add the hydrogenation catalyst to the polymerization reaction mixture as it is, so as to conduct the reaction.
The norbornene polymers used in the present invention preferably have high heat resistance and weather resistance. Therefore, it is preferred that generally at least 95%, preferably at least 98%, more preferably at least 99% of the unsaturated bonds in the main chain structures of the ring-opening polymers should be saturated. The unsaturated bonds in an aromatic ring structure may be hydrogenated. However, it is desirable from the viewpoint of heat resistance that generally at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, more preferably at least 40% of the unsaturated bonds in the aromatic ring structure should remain unhydrogenated. The unsaturated bonds in the main chain structure and the unsaturated bonds in the aromatic ring structure can be distinguishably identified by 1H-NMR analysis. Even in the case of the addition polymer, it may also be hydrogenated, as needed, if it has unsaturated bonds in the side chains thereof
In order to mainly hydrogenate the unsaturated bonds in the main chain structure, it is desirable that the hydrogenation reaction should be conducted at a temperature of generally xe2x88x9220xc2x0 C. to 120xc2x0 C., preferably 0 to 100xc2x0 C., more preferably 20 to 80xc2x0 C. under a hydrogen pressure of generally 0.1 to 50 kg/cm2, preferably 0.5 to 30 kg/cm2, more preferably 1 to 20 kg/cm2.
(4) Norbornene polymer:
No particular limitation is imposed on the molecular weight of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer. However, the thermoplastic norbornene polymer generally has a molecular weight ranging from 500 to 500,000, preferably from 1,000 to 300,000, more preferably from 5,000 to 250,000, most preferably from 8,000 to 200,000 when expressed by a number average molecular weight (Mn) in terms of polystyrene as measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using toluene as a solvent. The thermoplastic norbornene polymer the number average molecular weight (Mn) of which falls within this range is preferred because the mechanical strength and processability of the polymer are balanced with each other at a high level.
No particular limitation is imposed on the molecular weight distribution of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer. However, it is preferred that its ratio (Mw/Mn) of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) to the number average molecular weight (Mn) in terms of polystyrene as measured by GPC using toluene as a solvent be generally 4.0 or lower, preferably 3.0 or lower, more preferably 2.5 or lower, since the mechanical strength of the polymer is enhanced.
The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer may be suitably selected as necessary for the end application intended. However, it is generally 50 to 400xc2x0 C., preferably 100 to 350xc2x0 C., more preferably 120 to 330xc2x0 C. as measured by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). In fields of which particularly high heat resistance and soldering heat resistance are required, the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer is generally at least 160xc2x0 C., preferably at least 180xc2x0 C., more preferably at least 200xc2x0 C., most preferably at least 250xc2x0 C. The thermoplastic norbornene polymer preferably has a high glass transition temperature because deterioration of mechanical strength of the resulting composition in a region of high temperatures such as packaging temperature and reliability testing temperature is suppressed, and its viscosity characteristics also become excellent.
The thermoplastic norbornene polymers may be used either singly or in any combination thereof.
(5) Modification process:
The thus-obtained norbornene polymers and hydrogenated products thereof may be modified with an xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof, styrenic hydrocarbon, organosilicon compound having an olefinically unsaturated bond and a hydrolyzable group, unsaturated epoxy compound, or the like in accordance with a process known by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 95235/1991 or the like. In the present invention, a modified norbornene polymer may be used as the thermoplastic norbornene polymer. Of the modified polymers, a polymer obtained by introducing a polar group into the norbornene polymer is particularly preferred from the viewpoints of compatibility with thermosetting resins and adhesion property to metals.
No particular limitation is imposed on the polar group so far as it is a polar group capable of improving the compatibility with thermosetting resins. Specific examples thereof include epoxy, carboxyl, hydroxyl, ester, silanol, amino, nitrile, halogen, acyl, sulfonic and carboxylic acid anhydride groups. Of these, the epoxy, carboxyl and carboxylic acid anhydride groups are preferred in order to improve the compatibility with epoxy resins which are the most common thermosetting resins.
Examples of a process for modifying the norbornene polymer to introduce a polar group thereinto include {circle around (1)} a process in which a polar group-containing unsaturated compound such as an unsaturated epoxy compound or unsaturated carboxylic compound is grafted into a norbornene polymer, and {circle around (2)} a process in which a modifying agent such as an epoxidizing agent is reacted with carbon-carbon unsaturated bonds present in a norbornene polymer
In {circle around (1)} the graft-modifying process, a monomer having a polar group (graft monomer) is generally subjected to a graft reaction with a norbornene polymer. Typical examples of the graft monomer include unsaturated epoxy compounds and unsaturated carboxylic compounds.
Examples of the unsaturated epoxy compounds include glycidyl esters such as glycidyl acrylate, glycidyl methacrylate and glycidyl p-styrylcarboxylate; mono- or polyglycidyl esters of unsaturated polycarboxylic acids such as endo-cis-bicyclo[2,2,1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid and endo-cis-bicyclo[2,2,1]hept-5-ene-2-methyl-2,3-dicarboxylic acid; unsaturated glycidyl ethers such as allyl glycidyl ether, 2-methylallyl glycidyl ether, glycidyl ether of o-allylphenol, glycidyl ether of m-allylphenol and glycidyl ether of p-allylphenol; and 2-(o-vinylphenyl)ethylene oxide, 2-(p-vinylphenyl)ethylene oxide, 2-(o-allylphenyl)ethylene oxide, 2-(p-allylphenyl)ethylene oxide, 2-(o-vinylphenyl)propylene oxide, 2-(p-vinylphenyl) propylene oxide, 2-(o-allylphenyl)-propylene oxide, 2-(p-allylphenyl)propylene oxide, p-glycidylstyrene, 3,4-epoxy-1-butene, 3,4-epoxy-3-methyl-1-butene, 3,4-epoxy-1-pentene, 3,4-epoxy-3-methyl-1-pentene, 5,6-epoxy-1-hexene; vinylcyclohexene monoxide and allyl-2,3-epoxycyclopentyl ether. Of these, the allyl glycidyl esters and allyl glycidyl ethers are preferred, with the allyl glycidyl ethers being particularly preferred.
As the unsaturated carboxylic compounds, may be used unsaturated carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof. As examples of such unsaturated carboxylic acids, may be mentioned acrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, crotonic acid, isocrotonic acid and nadic acid (endo-cis-bicyclo[2,2,1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid). As examples of derivatives of the above-described unsaturated carboxylic acids, may be mentioned unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydrides, unsaturated carboxylic acid halides, unsaturated carboxylic acid amides, unsaturated carboxylic acid imides and ester compounds of unsaturated carboxylic acids. As specific examples of such derivatives, may be mentioned malenyl chloride, maleimide, maleic anhydride, citraconic anhydride, monomethyl maleate, dimethyl maleate and glycidyl maleate. Of these, the unsaturated dicarboxylic acids or acid anhydrides thereof are preferred, with maleic acid and nadic acid or acid anhydrides thereof being particularly preferred.
These graft monomers may be used either singly or in any combination thereof.
The modified norbornene polymers can be produced by subjecting such a graft monomer as described above and the norbornene polymer to graft modification by using any of various processes. Examples of the processes include (1) a process comprising melting a norbornene polymer and adding a graft monomer to the melt to graft polymerize them, and (2) a process comprising dissolving a norbornene polymer in a solvent and adding a graft monomer to the solution to graft copolymerize them.
In order to efficiently graft copolymerize the graft monomer, it is generally preferred to carry out a reaction in the presence of a radical initiator. Examples of the radical initiator include organic peroxides, organic peresters and azo compounds. Of these, benzoyl peroxide, and dialkyl peroxides such as dicumyl peroxide, di-tert-butyl peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butyl peroxy)-hexyne-3, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butyl peroxy)hexane and 1,4-bis(tert-butyl peroxyisopropyl)benzene are preferably used as the radical initiators. A proportion of the radical initiator used is generally within a range of 0.001 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 0.001 to 5 parts by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 2.5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the unmodified norbornene polymer.
No particular limitation is imposed on the graft-modifying reaction, and the reaction may be carried out in accordance with a method known per se in the art. The reaction is conducted at a temperature of generally 0xc2x0 C. to 400xc2x0 C., preferably 60xc2x0 C. to 350xc2x0 C. The reaction time is generally within a range of 1 minute to 24 hours, preferably 30 minutes to 10 hours.
In {circle around (2)} the process of reacting a modifying agent, the modifying agent such as an epoxidizing agent is reacted with a norbornene polymer having carbon-carbon unsaturated bonds in its main chain or side chain to introduce a polar group into the polymer.
As the norbornene polymer, there is used a ring-opening polymer of a norbornene monomer, a partially hydrogenated product of the ring-opening polymer, an addition (co)polymer of a norbornene monomer having a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond such as an alkylidene group in its side chain, or the like.
When for example, a peroxide is used as the modifying agent, the carbon-carbon double bonds in the main chain or side chain of the norbornene polymer can be epoxidized. Examples of the peroxide include peracids such as peracetic acid, perbenzoic acid, m-chloroperbenzoic acid and trifluoroperacetic acid: and hydroperoxides such as hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide and cumene hydroperoxide.
For the epoxidation reaction, it is only necessary to mix the norbornene polymer and the peroxide and heat the mixture. The reaction is generally conducted in the presence of a solvent. No particular limitation is imposed on the solvent so far as it can dissolve or disperses the norbornene polymer therein. Examples of usable solvents include the same solvents as those mentioned in the production process of the norbornene polymer. The amount of the solvent used is within a range of 1 to 100 times, preferably 2 to 80 times, more preferably 5 to 50 times in terms of a weight ratio to the norbornene polymer.
Conditions for the reaction may be suitably selected according to the kind of the peroxide used. However, the reaction is generally conducted at a temperature of 0 to 300xc2x0 C., preferably 50 to 200xc2x0 C. The reaction time is generally within a range of 0.1 to 10 hours, preferably 0.5 to 5 hours. After completion of the reaction, a poor solvent such as methanol is added in a great amount to the reaction system to deposit a polymer formed, and the polymer is collected by filtration, washed and then dried under reduced pressure, whereby an epoxy-modified polymer can be obtained.
In order to obtain a hydroxy-modified norbornene polymer, there is mentioned, for example, a process comprising reacting formic acid and hydrogen peroxide with a norbornene polymer having carbon-carbon unsaturated bonds and then neutralizing the reaction mixture with an alkali (for example, sodium hydroxide).
The rate (degree) of modification of the modified norbornene polymer is suitably selected as necessary for the end application intended. However, it is generally within a range of 0.1 to 100 mol %, preferably 1 to 50 mol %, more preferably 5 to 30 mol % based on the total number of monomer units in the polymer. The modified norbornene polymer the rate of modification of which falls within this range is preferred in that the compatibility with thermosetting resins and adhesion property to metals are improved without deteriorating its electrical properties such as dielectric constant.
The rate of modification is represented by the following equation (1):
Rate of modification (mol %)=(X/Y)xc3x97100xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
Wherein
X: the total number of moles of the polar group (determined by 1H-NMR); and
Y: the total number of monomer units in the polymer (weight average molecular weight of the polymer/average molecular weight of the monomer).
A polymer having a long-chain substituent group in its repeating structural unit is preferred in that its viscosity when dissolved in a solvent is low, and so the thermosetting resin is uniformly dispersed therein with ease. Examples of the polymer having a long-chain substituent group in its repeating structural unit include {circle around (1)} addition (co)polymers of a norbornene monomer having a substituent group having at least 4 carbon atoms, such as 2-butylnorbornene, 2-hexylnorbornene or 5-butoxycarbonyl-2-norbornene, and {circle around (2)} norbornene polymers with a vinyl compound having at least 4 carbon atoms, such as 1-dodecene, 1-hexadecene, allyl ethyl ether, butyl acrylate or styrene, added thereto by a graft reaction. However, such polymers are not limited to these (co)polymers.
Thermosetting Resin:
No particular limitation is imposed on the thermosetting resin useful in the practice of the present invention, and those commonly used in the resin industry may be used. Examples thereof include epoxy resins, urea resins, melamine resins, phenol resins, polyimide resins and unsaturated polyester resins. Of these, the epoxy resins and polyimide resin are preferred.
Many of the thermosetting resins are composed of a low-molecular weight raw material and a hardener. In the case of, for example, an epoxy resin, the resin is composed of an epoxy compound and various kinds of hardeners. No particular limitation is imposed on the epoxy compound so far as it has an epoxy group in its molecule. Examples thereof include compounds used in epoxy resins of the bisphenol, novolak, alicyclic, heterocyclic, glycerol and dicyclopentadiene types. Of these, halogenated bisphenol type epoxy compounds represented by the formula (E1):
wherein X is a halogen atom, R is a divalent hydrocarbon group, m is an integer of 1 to 3, and n is 0 or an integer of at least 1, are preferred.
In the epoxy compounds of the formula (E1), a compound in which m is all 2, n is substantially 0, the halogen atom X is a bromine atom, and R is an isopropylidene group is preferred.
Novolak type epoxy compounds represented by the formula (E2):
wherein Rxe2x80x2 is a hydrogen atom or alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and p is 0 or an integer of at least 1, are also preferably used.
In the epoxy compounds of the formula (E2), compounds in which an average value of p is 0 to 5, and Rxe2x80x2 is a hydrogen atom or methyl group are preferred.
These epoxy compounds may be used either singly or in any combination thereof. When great importance is attached to flame retardancy, the bisphenol type epoxy compounds of the formula (E1) are preferred. When the heat resistance and chemical resistance are intended to be improved, the novolak type epoxy compounds of the formula (E2) are preferred. As specific examples of the bisphenol type epoxy compounds of the formula (E1), may be mentioned compounds represented by the formula (E3).
As the halogenated bisphenol type epoxy compounds represented by the formula (E3), for example, those having Br contents of 20 wt. % and 50 wt. %, respectively, are commercially available.
As the hardener for the epoxy resins, there may be used publicly known compounds, for example, amine compounds, imidazole compounds, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds such as diazabicycloundecene, organic phosphines, organic boron complexes, quaternary ammonium compounds and quaternary phosphonium compounds.
Examples of the polyimide resins include addition type aromatic polyimides such as nadic acid-terminated polyimide and acetylene-terminated polyimide; and bismaleimide type polyimides such as polyamino-bismaleimide (PI) resins, modified imide resins obtained by adding an epoxy compound, allyl compound, acrylic compound, vinyl compound or the like to PI, and bismaleimide.triazine (BT) resins.
These thermosetting resins may be used either singly or in any combination thereof. The amount of the thermosetting resin blended is generally 1 to 150 parts by weight, preferably 5 to 120 parts by weight, particularly preferably 10 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer. If the amount of the thermosetting resin blended is extremely small, the resulting composition becomes poor in adhesion property to metals. If the amount is extremely great on the other hand, the resulting composition becomes poor in electrical properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent. It is hence not preferable to blend the thermosetting resin in such a small or great amount.
Norbornene Polymer Composition:
In the norbornene polymer composition according to the present invention, as needed, a crosslinking agent, a crosslinking aid, a filler, a flame retardant, other compounding additives, a solvent, etc. may be blended in addition to the above-described components.
(1) Crosslinking Agent:
In order to crosslink the thermoplastic norbornene polymer composition according to the present invention, for example, a method of crosslinking the composition by irradiation of radiation is also included. However, a method of crosslinking the composition by blending a crosslinking agent is generally adopted. No particular limitation is imposed on the crosslinking agent. However, {circle around (1)} an organic peroxide, {circle around (2)} a crosslinking agent of the type that its effect is exhibited by heat, {circle around (3)} a crosslinking agent of the type that its effect is exhibited by light, or the like is used.
{circle around (1)} Organic Peroxide:
Examples of the organic peroxide include ketone peroxides such as methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and cyclohexanone peroxide; peroxyketals such as 1,1-bis(t-butyl peroxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane and 2,2-bis(t-butyl peroxy)butane; hydroperoxides such as t-butyl hydroperoxide and 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide; dialkyl peroxides such as dicumyl peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butyl peroxy)hexyne-3 and xcex1,xcex1xe2x80x2-bis(t-butyl peroxy-m-isopropyl)benzene; diacyl peroxides such as octanoyl peroxide and isobutyryl peroxide; and peroxyesters such as peroxydicarbonate. Of these, the dialkyl peroxides are preferred from the viewpoint of performance of the crosslinked resin. It is preferred to change the kind of the alkyl group according to the forming or molding temperature.
The organic peroxides may be used either singly or in any combination thereof. The amount of the organic peroxide blended is generally 0.001 to 30 parts by weight, preferably 0.01 to 25 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer. The blending amount within this range is preferred because crosslinkability of the resulting composition, and properties of the crosslinked resin, such as electrical properties, chemical resistance and water resistance are balanced with one another at a high level.
{circle around (2)} Crosslinking Agent Capable of Exhibiting its Effect by Heat:
No particular limitation is imposed on the crosslinking agent (hardener) capable of exhibiting its effect by heat so far as it can cause a crosslinking reaction by heating. Examples thereof include aliphatic polyamines such as diamines, triamines and still higher polyamines, alicyclic polyamines, aromatic polyamines, bisazides, acid anhydrides, dicarboxylic acids, diols, polyhydric phenols, polyamides, diisocyanates, and polyisocyanates. Specific examples thereof include aliphatic polyamines such as hexamethylenediamine, triethylenetetramine, diethylenetriamine and tetraethylenepentamine; alicyclic polyamines such as diaminocyclohexane, 3(4),8(9)-bis(aminomethyl)tricyclo-[5,2,1,02,6]decane, 1,3-(diaminomethyl)cyclohexane, menthenediamine, isophoronediamine, N-aminoethylpiperazine, bis(4-amino-3-methylcyclohexyl)methane and bis(4-amino-cyclohexyl)methane; aromatic polyamines such as 4,4xe2x80x2-diaminodiphenyl ether, 4,4xe2x80x2-diaminodiphenylmethane, xcex1,xcex1xe2x80x2-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1,3-diisopropylbenzene, xcex1,xcex1xe2x80x2-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1,4-diisopropylbenzene, 4,4xe2x80x2-diaminodiphenyl sulfone and m-phenylenediamine; bisazides such as 4,4xe2x80x2-bisazidobenzal(4-methyl)cyclohexanone, 4,4xe2x80x2-diazidochalcone, 2,6-bis(4xe2x80x2-azidobenzal)cyclohexanone, 2,6-bis-(4xe2x80x2-azidobenzal)-4-methylcyclohexanone, 4,4xe2x80x2-diazidodiphenyl sulfone, 4,4xe2x80x2-diazidodiphenylmethane and 2,2xe2x80x2-diazidostilbene; acid anhydrides such as phthalic anhydride, pyromellitic anhydride, benzophenone-tetracarboxylic acid anhydride, nadic anhydride, 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid anhydride, maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene and maleic anhydride-modified norbornene resins; dicarboxylic acids such as fumaric acid, phthalic acid, maleic acid, trimellitic acid and himic acid; diols such as 1,3xe2x80x2-butanediol, 1,4xe2x80x2-butanediol, hydroquinone-dihydroxydiethyl ether and tricyclodecanedimethanol; triols such as 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane; polyhydric phenols such as phenol novolak resins and cresol novolak resin; polyhydric alcohols such as tricyclodecanediol, diphenylsilanediol, ethylene glycol and derivatives thereof, diethylene glycol and derivatives thereof, and triethylene glycol and derivatives thereof; polyamides such as nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 610, nylon 11, nylon 612, nylon 12, nylon 46, methoxymethylated polyamides, polyhexamethylenediamine terephthalamide and polyhexamethylene isophthalamide; diisocyanates such as hexamethylene diisocyanate and toluylene diisocyanate; polyisocyanates such as dimers and trimers of diisocyanates, and adducts of diisocyanates with a diol or triol; and blocked isocyanates the isocyanate moiety of which is protected by a blocking agent.
These crosslinking agents may be used either singly or in any combination thereof. Of these, the aromatic polyamines, acid anhydrides, polyhydric phenols and polyhydric alcohols are preferred for reasons of providing a crosslinked resin excellent in heat resistance, mechanical strength, adhesion property and dielectric properties (low dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent). Among others, 4,4-diaminodiphenylmethane (aromatic polyamine), maleic anhydride-modified norbornene resins (acid anhydride) and polyhydric alcohols are particularly preferred.
No particular limitation is imposed on the amount of the crosslinking agent blended. From the viewpoints of being able to efficiently conduct the crosslinking reaction and improve the physical properties of the resulting crosslinked resin, and being profitable, however, it is generally within a range of 0.001 to 30 parts by weight, preferably 0.01 to 25 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer. If the amount of the crosslinking agent is too small, the resulting composition becomes hard to undergo crosslinking, and so sufficient heat resistance and solvent resistance cannot be imparted to the composition. On the contrary, any amount too great results in a crosslinked resin lowered in properties such as water-absorption property and dielectric properties. It is hence not preferable to use the crosslinking agent in any amount outside the above range. Therefore, the blending amount within this range is preferred because these properties are balanced with one another at a high level.
As needed, a crosslinking accelerator (hardening accelerator) may also be blended to enhance the efficiency of the crosslinking reaction.
As examples of the hardening accelerator, may be mentioned amines such as pyridine, benzyldimethylamine, triethanolamine, triethylamine, tributylamine, tribenzylamine, dimethylformamide and imidazoles. The hardening accelerator is added in order to regulate the rate of the crosslinking reaction and further enhance the efficiency of the crosslinking reaction. No particular limitation is imposed on the amount of the hardening accelerator blended. However, it is used within a range of generally 0.1 to 30 parts by weight, preferably 1 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer. The blending amount within this range is preferred because crosslinking density, dielectric properties, water absorption and the like of the crosslinked resin are balanced with one another at a high level. Among others, imidazoles are preferred in that a crosslinked resin excellent in dielectric properties can be provided.
{circle around (3)} Crosslinking Agent Capable of Exhibiting its Effect by Light:
No particular limitation is imposed on the crosslinking agent (hardener) capable of exhibiting its effect by light so far as it is a photoreactive substance which reacts with the thermoplastic norbornene polymer by irradiation of actinic rays such as ultraviolet rays such as g rays, h rays or i rays, far ultraviolet rays, X rays, or electron rays to form a crosslinked compound. Examples thereof include aromatic bisazide compounds, photo-induced amine generators and photo-induced acid generators.
Specific typical examples of the aromatic bisazide compounds include 4,4xe2x80x2-diazidochalcone, 2,6-bis(4xe2x80x2-azidobenzal)cyclohexanone, 2,6-bis(4xe2x80x2-azidobenzal)-4-methylcyclohexanone, 4,4xe2x80x2-diazidodiphenyl sulfone, 4,4xe2x80x2-diazidobenzophenone, 4,4xe2x80x2-diazidophenyl, 2,7-diazidofluorene and 4,4xe2x80x2-diazidophenylmethane. These compounds may be used either singly or in any combination thereof.
Specific examples of the photo-induced amine generators include o-nitrobenzyloxycarbonylcarbamates, 2,6-dinitrobenzyloxycarbonylcarbamates and xcex1,xcex1-dimethyl-3,5-dimethoxybenzyloxycarbonylcarbamates of aromatic amines or aliphatic amines. More specifically, there may be mentioned o-nitrobenzyloxycarbonylcarbamates of aniline, cyclohexylamine, piperidine, hexamethylenediamine, triethylenetetramine, 1,3-(diaminomethyl)cyclohexane, 4,4xe2x80x2-diaminodiphenyl ether, 4,4xe2x80x2-diaminodiphenylmethane, phenylenediamine and the like. These compounds may be used either singly or in any combination thereof.
The photo-induced acid generator is a substance which forms a Brxcfx86nsted acid or Lewis acid upon exposure to actinic rays. Examples thereof include onium salts, halogenated organic compounds, quinonediazide compounds, xcex1,xcex1-bis(sulfonyl)diazomethane compounds, xcex1-carbonyl-xcex1-sulfonyl-diazomethane compounds, sulfone compounds, organic acid ester compounds, organic acid amide compounds and organic acid imide compounds. These compounds, which cleave upon exposure to the actinic rays to form an acid, may be used either singly or in any combination thereof.
No particular limitation is imposed on the amount of these photoreactive compounds blended. From the viewpoints of being able to efficiently conduct the reaction with the thermoplastic norbornene polymer, not impairing the physical properties of the resulting crosslinked resin, and being profitable, however, it is generally within a range of 0.001 to 30 parts by weight, preferably 0.01 to 25 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer. If the amount of the photoreactive substance added is too small, the resulting composition becomes hard to undergo crosslinking, and so sufficient heat resistance and solvent resistance cannot be imparted to the composition. On the contrary, any amount too great results in a crosslinked resin lowered in properties such as water-absorption property and dielectric properties. It is hence not preferable to use the photoreactive compound in any amount outside the above range. Therefore, the blending amount within this range is preferred because these properties are balanced with one another at a high level.
(2) Crosslinking Aid:
In the present invention, it is preferred to use a crosslinking aid (hardening aid), because the crosslinkability and the dispersibility of the compounding additives can be more enhanced.
No particular limitation is imposed on the crosslinking aid used in the present invention. Publicly known compounds disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 34924/1987 and the like may be used. Examples thereof include oxime.nitroso type crosslinking aids such as quinone dioxime, benzoquinone dioxime and p-nitrosophenol; maleimide type crosslinking aids such as N,N-m-phenylenebismaleimide; allyl type crosslinking aids such as diallyl phthalate, triallyl cyanurate and triallyl isocyanurate; methacrylate type crosslinking aids such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate; vinyl type crosslinking aids such as vinyltoluene, ethylvinylbenzene and divinylbenzene. Of these, the allyl type crosslinking aids and methacrylate type crosslinking aids are preferred because they make it easy to uniformly disperse compounding additives.
The amount of the crosslinking aid added is suitably selected according to the kind of the crosslinking agent used. However, it is generally 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 0.2 to 5 parts by weight per part by weight of the crosslinking agent. If the amount of the crosslinking aid added is too small, the resulting composition becomes hard to undergo crosslinking. On the contrary, any amount too great results in a crosslinked resin having a possibility that its electrical properties, water resistance, moisture resistance and the like may be deteriorated.
(3) Filler:
In order to improve mechanical strength (toughness) and reduce coefficient of linear expansion in particular, a filler may be blended into the composition according to the present invention. Examples of the filler include inorganic and organic fillers.
No particular limitation is imposed on the inorganic fillers. Examples thereof include calcium carbonate (precipitated calcium carbonate, heavy or pulverized calcium, special calcium type fillers), clay (aluminum silicate; fine nepheline syenite powder, calcined clay, silane-modified clay), talc, silica, alumina, diatomaceous earth, quartz sand, pumice powder, pumice balloons, slate powder, mica powder, asbestos, alumina colloid (alumina sol), alumina white, aluminum sulfate, barium sulfate, lithopone, calcium sulfate, molybdenum disulfide, graphite, glass fibers, glass beads, glass flake, foamed glass beads, fly ash beads, volcanic glass balloons, synthetic fiber balloons, monocrystalline potassium titanate, carbon fibers, carbon balloons, anthracite culm, artificial cryolite, titanium oxide, magnesium oxide, basic magnesium carbonate, dolomite, potassium titanate, mica, asbestos, calcium silicate, montmorillonite, bentonite, graphite, aluminum powder, molybdenum sulfide, boron fibers and silicon carbide fibers.
Examples of the organic fillers include polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, polyester fibers, polyamide fibers, fluorocarbon fibers, ebonite powder, thermosetting resin balloons, sarab balloons, shellac, wood flour, cork powder, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, cellulose powder and wood pulp.
(4) Flame Retardant:
The flame retardant is not an essential component. However, it is preferred that the flame retardant be added to the thermoplastic norbornene polymer composition when the composition is used for electronic parts. No particular limitation is imposed on the flame retardant. However, those which undergo none of decomposition, denaturation and deterioration by the crosslinking agent (hardener) are preferred.
Various kinds of chlorine- or bromine-containing flame retardants may be used as the halogen-containing flame retardants. From the viewpoints of flameproofing effect, heat resistance upon forming or molding, dispersibility in resins and influence on the physical properties of the resins, however, the following flame retardants may be preferably used. Namely, preferable examples thereof include hexabromobenzene, pentabromoethylbenzene, hexabromobiphenyl, decabromodiphenyl, hexabromodiphenyl oxide, octabromodiphenyl oxide, decabromodiphenyl oxide, pentabromocyclohexane, tetrabromobisphenol A and derivatives thereof [for example, tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(hydroxyethyl ether), tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether), tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(bromoethyl ether), tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(allyl ether), etc.], tetrabromobisphenol S and derivative thereof [for example, tetrabromobisphenol S-bis(hydroxyethyl ether), tetrabromobisphenol S-bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether), etc.], tetrabromophthalic anhydride and derivatives thereof [for example, tetrabromophthalimide, ethylenebistetrabromophthalimide, etc.], ethylene-bis(5,6-dibromonorbornene-2,3-dicarboxyimide), tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl-1) isocyanurate, adducts of hexabromocyclopentadiene by Diels-Alder reaction, tribromophenyl glycidyl ether, tribromophenyl acrylate, ethylenebistribromophenyl ether, ethylenebispentabromophenyl ether, tetradecabromodiphenoxybenzene, brominated polystyrene, brominated polyphenylene oxide, brominated epoxy resins, brominated polycarbonate, polypentabromobenzyl acrylate, octabromonaphthalene, hexabromocyclododecane, bis(tribromophenyl)fumaramide and N-methylhexabromodiphenylamine. Incidentally, the halogenated bisphenol type epoxy compounds in the thermosetting resin mentioned above are also a kind of flame retardant.
The amount of the flame retardant added is generally 1 to 150 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 140 parts by weight, particularly preferably 15 to 120 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer.
As a flame retardant auxiliary for causing the flame retardant to more effectively exhibit its flameproofing effect, for example, an antimonial flame retardant auxiliary such as antimony trioxide, antimony pentoxide, sodium antimonate or antimony trichloride may be used. These flame retardant auxiliaries are used in a proportion of generally 1 to 30 parts by weight, preferably 2 to 20 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the flame retardant.
(5) Other Polymer Components:
In the present invention, rubbery polymers and other thermoplastic resins may be blended into the thermoplastic norbornene polymer composition, as needed, in order to impart flexibility and the like to the composition.
The rubbery polymers are polymers having a glass transition temperature of ordinary temperature (25xc2x0 C.) or lower and include general rubber-like polymers and thermoplastic elastomers. The Mooney viscosity (ML1+4, 100xc2x0 C.) of such a rubbery polymer is suitably selected as necessary for the end application intended and is generally 5 to 200.
Examples of the rubber-like polymers include ethylene-xcex1-olefin type rubbery polymers; ethylene-xcex1-olefin-polyene terpolymer rubbers; copolymers of ethylene and an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, such as ethylene-methyl methacrylate and ethylene-butyl acrylate; copolymers of ethylene and a fatty acid vinyl ester, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate; polymers of acrylic acid alkyl esters such as ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and lauryl acrylate; diene rubbers such as polybutadiene, polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene or styrene-isoprene random copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers, butadiene-isoprene copolymers, butadiene-alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers, butadiene-alkyl (meth)acrylate-acrylonitrile terpolymers and butadiene-alkyl (meth)acrylate-acrylonitrile-styrene tetrapolymers; and butylene-isoprene copolymers.
Examples of the thermoplastic elastomers include aromatic vinyl-conjugated diene block copolymers such as styrene-butadiene block polymers, hydrogenated styrene-butadiene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene block copolymers and hydrogenated styrene-isoprene block copolymers, low crystalline polybutadiene resins, ethylene-propylene elastomers, styrene-grafted ethylene-propylene elastomers, thermoplastic polyester elastomers, and ethylenic ionomer resins. Of these thermoplastic elastomers, the hydrogenated styrene-butadiene block copolymers and hydrogenated styrene-isoprene block copolymers are preferred. As specific examples thereof, may be mentioned those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 133406/1990, 305814/1990, 72512/1991 and 74409/1991, etc.
Examples of the other thermoplastic resins include low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, very low density polyethylene, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polystyrene, poly(phenylene sulfide), poly(phenylene ether), polyamide, polyester, polycarbonate and cellulose triacetate.
These rubbery polymers and other thermoplastic resins may be used either singly or in any combination thereof. The blending amount thereof is suitably selected within limits not impeding the objects of the present invention. However, it is preferably 30 parts by weight or less in order not to impair properties as an insulating material.
(6) Other Compounding Additives:
To the thermoplastic norbornene polymer compositions according to the present invention, may be added proper amounts of other compounding additives such as heat stabilizers, weathering stabilizers, leveling agents, antistatic agents, slip agents, antiblocking agents, anti-fogging agents, lubricants, dyes, pigments, natural oil, synthetic oil and wax, as needed.
Specific examples thereof include phenolic antioxidants such as tetrakis[methylene-3(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate]methane, alkyl xcex2-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionates and 2,2xe2x80x2-oxamido-bis[ethyl-3(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate]; phosphoric stabilizers such as trisnonylphenyl phosphate, tris(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl) phosphite and tris(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl) phosphate; fatty acid metal salts such as zinc stearate, calcium stearate and calcium 12-hydroxy-stearate; polyhydric alcohol fatty acid esters such as glycerol monostearate, glycerol monolaurate, glycerol distearate, pentaerythritol monostearate, pentaerythritol distearate and pentaerythritol tristearate; synthetic hydrotalcite; amine type antistatic agents; leveling agents for paints, such as fluorine-containing nonionic surfactants, special acrylic resin type leveling agents and silicone type leveling agents; coupling agents such as silane coupling agents, titanate coupling agents, aluminum type coupling agents and zircoaluminate coupling agents; plasticizers; and colorants such as pigments and dyes.
These compounding additives may be used either singly or in any combination thereof. The compounding amounts thereof are suitably selected according to their respective functions and the end application intended.
(7) Solvent:
In the present invention, the norbornene polymer composition may be dissolved in a solvent to prepare an impregnating solution for prepregs, produce a sheet by a solution casting method, or form a film by a coating method.
Examples of a solvent used in dissolving the norbornene polymer composition include aromatic hydrocarbons such as, toluene, xylene and ethylbenzene; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as n-pentane, hexane and heptane; alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane; and halogenated hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene and trichlorobenzene. The solvent is used in an amount sufficient to uniformly dissolve or disperse the thermoplastic norbornene polymer and the individual components optionally blended therein.
Molding, Prepreg, Laminate, etc.:
In the present invention, the norbornene polymer composition may be molded and then crosslinked to form a crosslinked molding. The thermoplastic norbornene polymer composition is molded after dissolving it in a solvent so as not to cause deterioration of moldability due to crosslinking in the course of molding, or by melting it at a temperature at which it undergoes no crosslinking, or crosslinking proceeds only at a sufficiently low rate. Specifically, the norbornene polymer composition dissolved in a solvent is cast, and the solvent is removed to form a sheet, or a base material is impregnated with the composition dissolved in the solvent to conduct molding.
The norbornene polymer composition according to the present invention can be molded into various parts. Examples of a molding process in this case include {circle around (1)} a process in which the composition is processed into a molding in a state of a thermoplastic resin by injection molding, press molding, compression molding or the like, {circle around (2)} a process in which a solution with the composition dissolved in an organic solvent is processed into a molding by potting or cast molding while removing the solvent, and {circle around (3)} a process in which the composition is processed into a thermoset molding by transfer molding or the like.
(1) Prepreg:
A prepreg is produced by uniformly dissolving or dispersing the thermoplastic norbornene polymer, thermosetting resin and various compounding additives in a solvent such as toluene, cyclohexane or xylene, impregnating a reinforcing base material with the solution or dispersion and then removing the solvent. In general, the prepreg is preferably produced so as to give a thickness of about 50 to 500 xcexcm.
The amount of the solvent used is controlled in such a manner that a solids concentration amounts to generally 1 to 90 wt. %, preferably 5 to 85 wt. %, more preferably 10 to 80 wt. %.
Examples of usable reinforcing base materials include paper base materials (linter paper, kraft paper, etc.), glass base materials (glass cloth, glass mat, glass paper, quartz fibers, etc.) and synthetic resin fiber base materials (polyester fibers, Alamide fibers, etc.). These reinforcing base materials may be surface treated with a treating agent such as a silane coupling agent. These reinforcing base materials may be used either singly or in any combination thereof.
The amount of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer composition to the reinforcing base material is suitably selected as necessary for the end application intended. It is however 1 to 90 wt. %, preferably 10 to 60 wt. % based on the reinforcing base material.
(2) Sheet:
No particular limitation is imposed on a process for producing a sheet. However, a casting process is generally used. For example, the norbornene polymer composition according to the present invention is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent such as toluene, xylene or cyclohexane so as to give a solids concentration of about 5 to 50 wt. %, the solution or dispersion is cast or coated on a smooth surface, the solvent is removed by drying or the like, and the dried product is separated from the smooth surface to obtain a sheet. When the solvent is removed by drying, it is preferred to select a method by which foaming by rapid drying does not occur. For example, it is only necessary to volatilize the solvent to a certain extent at a low temperature and then raise the temperature so as to sufficiently volatilize the solvent.
As the smooth surface, may be used a planished metal plate, a carrier film made of a resin, or the like. When the resin-made carrier film is used, a solvent to be used and drying conditions are determined taking the solvent resistance and heat resistance of a material of the carrier film into consideration.
Sheets obtained by the casting process generally have a thickness of about 10 xcexcm to 1 mm. These sheets can be used as interlayer insulating films, films for forming moistureproof layers, etc. by crosslinking them. They may also be used in the production of laminates which will be described subsequently.
(3) Laminate:
A laminate is obtained by stacking a plurality of the above-described prepregs and/or uncrosslinked sheets on one another and hot-pressing them, thereby crosslinking and mutually fusion-bonding them into a necessary thickness. When a laminated sheet is used as a circuit board, a circuit is formed by, for example, laminating an electrically conductive layer for wiring composed of a metal foil or the like, or etching the surface. The electrically conductive layer for wiring may be laminated not only on the outer surface of a laminated sheet as a finished article, but also in the interior of the laminated sheet according to the purpose. In order to prevent warpage upon a secondary processing such as etching, it is preferred to laminate laminating materials so as to vertically symmetrize. For example, the surfaces of the stacked prepregs and/or sheets are heated to a fusion-bonding temperature according to the norbornene resin used or higher, generally about 150 to 300xc2x0 C., and they are pressed under a pressure of about 30 to 80 kgf/cm2, thereby crosslinking and mutually fusion-bonding the respective layers to obtain a laminated sheet.
Other methods for applying a metal to these insulating layers include vapor deposition, electroplating, sputtering, ion plating, spraying and layering. Examples of metals commonly used include copper, nickel, tin, silver, gold, aluminum, platinum, titanium, zinc and chromium. Copper is oftenest used in circuit boards.
(4) Crosslinking:
In the present invention, a molding is crosslinked by itself or in the form of a laminate to obtain a crosslinked molding. The crosslinking may be conducted in accordance with a method known per se in the art. Examples thereof include a method of irradiating a molding with radiation, a method of heating a molding to a certain temperature or higher in the case where an organic peroxide has been blended, and a method of irradiating a molding with rays such as ultraviolet rays in the case where a photo-crosslinking agent has been blended. Of these, the method in which the organic peroxide is blended, and the molding is heated to crosslink is preferred, since the method can be conducted with ease.
A temperature at which a crosslinking reaction is caused is mainly determined by a combination of an organic peroxide and a crosslinking aid. However, the crosslinking is conducted by heating a molding to a temperature of generally 80 to 350xc2x0 C., preferably 120 to 300xc2x0 C., more preferably 150 to 250xc2x0 C. Crosslinking time is preferably determined to be about 4 times as much as the half-life of the organic peroxide, and is generally 5 to 120 minutes, preferably 10 to 90 minutes, more preferably 20 to 60 minutes. When a crosslinking agent (hardener) capable of exhibiting its effect by heat is used as the crosslinking agent, crosslinking is caused by heating. When a photo-crosslinking agent as the crosslinking agent, crosslinking can be caused by irradiation of light. When crosslinkable moldings are laminated and then crosslinked, fusion bonding and crosslinking occur between the respective layers, thereby obtaining an integral crosslinked molding.
(5) Crosslinked Molding:
Examples of crosslinked molding according to the present invention include laminated sheets, circuit boards, interlayer insulating films and films for forming moistureproof layers. The crosslinked moldings according to the present invention generally have a water absorption of at most 0.03%, and a dielectric constant of 2.0 to 4.0 and a dielectric loss tangent of 0.0005 to 0.005 as measured at a frequency of 1 MHz. Therefore, the moldings according to the present invention are superior in moisture resistance and electrical properties to the conventional thermoset moldings. The heat resistance of the crosslinked moldings according to the present invention is equal to that of the conventional thermoset moldings. Accordingly, even when a laminated sheet on which a copper foil has been laminated is brought into contact with a solder of 260xc2x0 C. for 30 seconds, abnormality such as separation of the copper foil and/or occurrence of blister is not observed. The crosslinked molding according to the present invention has excellent adhesion property to the copper foil as demonstrated by a peel strength of 1.4 to 2.2 kg/cm2. This is far improved compared with the conventional thermoplastic norbornene resins. From these results, the laminated sheets according to the present invention, which are crosslinked moldings, are suitable for use as circuit boards.
Moldings obtained by using the thermoplastic norbornene polymer compositions according to the present invention as thermoplastic resins are useful as electronic parts such as connectors, relays and capacitors; electronic parts such as injection-molded sealing parts for semiconductor devices such as transistor, IC and LSI; and body tubes for optical lenses and parts for polygon mirrors, Fxcex8 mirrors and the like.
When the thermoplastic norbornene polymer compositions according to the present invention are used in a state dissolved in an organic solvent, they are useful for uses such as sealing materials for potting and cast molding.
When the thermoplastic norbornene polymer compositions according to the present invention are used as transfer molding materials, they are useful as packaging (sealing) materials for semiconductor devices.
The thermoplastic norbornene polymer compositions according to the present invention can be used in the form of a film. In the case where the composition is used as a film, there are cases {circle around (1)} where the norbornene polymer composition is dissolved in an organic solvent, and the solution is formed into a film by a casting process or the like in advance to use it, {circle around (2)} where the solution is applied, and the solvent is then removed to use a film formed as an overcoat, and {circle around (3)} where a process of applying and drying the solution to form an insulating film, forming a wiring layer thereon, and further applying and drying the solution on the wiring layer to form an insulating film is conducted necessary times repeatedly (sequential formation of a multi-layer insulating film). More specifically, such films are useful as, for example, insulating sheets for laminated sheets, interlayer insulating films, liquid sealing materials for semiconductor devices, overcoating materials, etc.


A shoe shield is adapted to be detachably secured to the lacings of a shoe to protect the lacings and to provide a surface for a decorative emblem or feature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to shoe guards and, more particularly, to a decorative shield that is readily detachable from the shoe and completely covers the shoelaces to provide a contemporary and stylish appearance.
2. Description of the Background
Shoe guards generally are desirable to prevent shoelaces from untying. Recently, it has become increasingly popular to wear and display insignia, cartoon characters, words and phrases on various articles of clothing, particularly on shoes. At the same time, it is desirable for shoe designs, particularly sneakers, to be contemporary and stylish. To this end, several shoe guard designs previously have been proposed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,682 (Malloy) proposes a shoe lace cover strap that wraps around the instep of a shoe. The ends of the strap connect on the upper portion of the shoe laces by hook and loop fasteners. The shoe lace cover strap is adapted to display an emblem.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,854 (Edens) proposes a device for preventing shoe laces from untying. The proposed device includes a band having a recess through which the shoelace is threaded. Thus, a lower portion of the band rests on the shoe underneath the laces, while an upper portion of the band folds over the laces and connects to the lower portion by hook and loop fasteners. The band also is adapted to display an ornamental design.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,861 (Pelfrey) proposes a shoelace cover that is fixed to one side of the shoe and folds over only a part of the shoelaces, attaching to the other side of the shoe by hook and loop fasteners. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,660,664 (Aleksandrowicz) and Des. 283,556 (Campbell) for prior proposals where a shoe guard is sewn to the shoe.
Although capable of preventing shoelaces from untying, the above-proposed shoelace covers do not quickly and easily detach from the shoe and do not completely cover the shoelaces thus detracting from the contemporary shoe styling that currently is popular.


A parallel processing system and method for performing processing tasks in parallel on a plurality of processors breaks down a processing task into a plurality of self-contained task objects, each of which has one or more “data-waiting” slots for receiving a respective data input required for performing a computational step. The task objects are maintained in a “waiting” state while awaiting one or more inputs to fill its slots. When all slots are filled, the task object is placed in an “active” state and can be performed on a processor without waiting for any other input. The “active” tasks objects are placed in a queue and assigned to a next available processor. The status of the task object is changed to a “dead” state when the computation has been completed, and dead task objects are removed from memory at periodic intervals. This method is well suited to computer graphics (CG) rendering, and particularly to the shading task which can be broken up into task spaces of task objects for shading each pixel of an image frame based upon light sources in the scene. By allowing shading task objects to be defined with “data-waiting” slots for light/color data input, and placing task objects in the “active” state for processing by the next available one of an array of processors, the parallel processing efficiency can be kept high without wasting processing resources waiting for return of data.

Computer graphics (CG) systems create display images frame-by-frame from digital data representing mathematically-described objects in a scene. CG systems have been noteworthy recently in creating computer-generated special effects, animated films, interactive 3D video games, and other interactive or 3D effects in digital media. They are widely used for entertainment and advertising, computer aided design, flight simulation and training, and many other applications.
With today's very realistic, detailed, 3D graphics movies, such as Pixar's Toy Story series, there are two problems often encountered with CG computer hardware and software. First, the amount of data required to generate the images have grown to the gigabyte-level, which means that the data may not fit on a single workstation. Current 32-bit microprocessors limit the size of addressable memory to 4 gigabytes, and further limitations are imposed by the operating system. Virtual memory does not help in this case, because the processor and/or the operating system simply cannot manage a larger memory.
Second, complex scenes require a huge amount of computational power to process the required rendering tasks. It is typical for a full feature film-level CG scene to require hours of computation to render a single frame of final image to be printed to film. When multiplied by a frame rate of 24 frames/sec. and 1–2 hours for a movie, the computation time required is tremendous. In order to handle the intensive computation required for realistic imagery, computer graphics practitioners have developed different approaches using parallel processing methods to achieve greater throughput in generating CG images. The problem has been in finding a parallel processing scheme that is efficient and, at the same time, accommodates the implementation of a wide range of advanced graphics functions. A continuing challenge for all parallel processing schemes is to allocate the many tasks of the overall processing work among the processors so that none are overloaded or excessively idle.
One basic approach to parallel processing is a technique known as pipelining, in which individual processors are, in effect, connected in an assembly-line configuration. Each processor performs a set of operations on one chunk of data, then passes that chunk along to another processor which performs a second set of operations, while at the same time the first processor performs the first set operations again on another chunk of data. However, pipelining is generally suitable only for simple processing sequences where the same tasks are performed on all chunks of data and take roughly the same amount of time for each of the processors.
Another parallel processing strategy proposed assigning one or more three-dimensional objects to each processor module, in which each processor module produces pixel data from the objects. The processor outputs must be pipelined so that pixel data from each processor are combined with pixel data from other processors where objects in a scene overlap or have different types of lighting or viewing effects on each other. A major problem with this approach is the potential inefficiency of having objects of widely varying pixel sizes (array numbers) or lighting effects distributed unevenly among the processors, such that some processors are idle while others have too many pixels or processing steps to perform.
Another approach has been to assign each processor to perform all processing steps for pixels in a predetermined region of the image screen, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,385, issued May 26, 1998 to Narayanaswami et al., assigned to IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y. However, this approach imposes complex workload management programming requirements for allocating pixels and regions based upon the distribution of objects in the scene.
Yet another parallel processing strategy employed multiple whole-screen frame buffers matched to multiple processors, with each computing the whole screen but only a fraction of the total number of objects in the scene. The contributions to a pixel from each of the multiple screens are then combined. This simplifies the requirements for load balancing among processors by avoiding having to test each object for clipping and assignment to a given subregion of the scene. However, this approach creates a new problem in that each of the multiple whole-screen frame buffers for a single image requires substantial amounts of interprocessing to correctly form a composited image upon output.
Another approach, exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,598 issued Feb. 17, 1998 to Latham, assigned to Loral Aerospace Corp., New York, N.Y., distributed polygon elements making up the objects in a scene among the processing modules. A scene data management processor selects and organizes the objects modeled with polygons and distributes the polygons to parallel geometry processing modules. The geometry processing modules convert the images from 3D to 2D screen coordinates and divide the polygons into constituent line elements or "spans". The spans are collected and sorted in order in a region buffer associated with each field of view. This approach also has the problems, discussed above, of potential inefficiencies in assigning polygons unevenly among the processors, and delays in pipelining the polygon outputs of the processors to a composited image based upon the most delayed processor.
One proposed solution specifically for CG scene rendering has been to use multiple CPUs running the rendering software in parallel, where the rendering tasks for a scene are broken up between the different CPUs so that each one renders some assigned part of the scene. This technique may be used whenever the scene data is too large to fit in a single processor. The scene is broken down into several layers, which may then be rendered by a renderer such as the RENDERMAN™ system of Pixar Animation Studios of Emeryville, Calif. However, this approach does not account for different CPU loads for different layers. Further, the software does not know how to divide a scene across the different CPUs, so human effort is required to do this job. The rendered images also require an additional step of compositing together the images generated by the different CPUs. Also, it does not allow for effects such as correct reflection across different objects, since the individual CPUs do not know about the CG data being rendered on the other processors.
A recent development employed by Square USA, Inc., based in Los Angeles, Calif., and Honolulu, Hi., is to have a group of processors that divide the scene data across different processors, and at the same time know about the data that other processors have, so that necessary data can be queried at any time. Square USA's in-house renderer takes this "data-parallel" approach to handle the large data size of CG scenes. The scene data are distributed among the different processors, and the processors communicate via message passing when one processor needs some computation performed by another processor.
Generally, two problems occur in distributed processing systems using message passing. Referring to FIG. 1, a typical parallel processing system employs a set of processing machines or CPU processors (Machine A, Machine B, etc.) to which different processing tasks (Task A, Task B, Task C, etc.) are assigned in order to perform them in parallel. In this example, Machine A performs a processing task on Task A, and Machine B performs a processing task on Task B. However, if Task A requires data input from another source, such as from Task B, to complete its task, then it sends a message to Task B and awaits its input. Task A in many cases cannot go on to further processing until it gets a reply from Task B. It is normal for many such situations to occur within a distributed processing system. In such a case, Task A will remain in a wait state and cannot go on to a next assigned Task C until the reply from Task B comes back. Thus, Machine A on which Task A is running will be used simply for waiting, thereby wasting a valuable CPU resource. Further, when executing large amounts of independent processing in parallel, the task management for each of the many processing tasks and assignments to the multiple processors, taking into account the independence and parallelism of each process, requires a huge development cost and experience on the part of the programmer, and is not a trivial task.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a parallel processing system and method that can effectively parallelize the processing of tasks in a parallel processing environment. A more specific object of the invention is to greatly reduce the amount of wasted time of a processor waiting for a return message from other tasks being processed in a parallel processing environment of the message-passing type. It is also a particular desired object to significantly improve the throughput of CG scene rendering by devising a way for the sequence of rendering tasks to be performed in parallel by minimizing the waiting time between tasks.

Parallel object task engine and processing method


An optical apparatus comprises an ultraviolet light source (100) configured to transmit the ultraviolet light to a sample (102), one or more wavelength dependent beam splitters (104) and at least two separate detectors (106, 108). Each beam splitter (104) receives, from the sample (102), a band of excitating ultraviolet light and at least one band of fluorescence associated with an interaction between the excitating ultraviolet light and the sample (102) in the optical path through the sample (102), directs the band of excitating ultraviolet light passed through the sample (102) towards a first detector (106), and directs the at least one band of the fluorescence towards at least one separate detector (108). The first detector (106) and the at least one separate detector (108) are simultaneously configured to form electrical signals carrying information on powers of the bands of the ultraviolet light and the fluorescence, respectively. The signal processing unit (110) configured to measure the at least one property of the sample (102) on the basis of a signal from the first detector (106) and each signal from the at least one separate detector (108).

When a fluorescent compound absorbs ultraviolet light, for example, it may emit light in an optical band having longer wavelength than the ultraviolet light. The optical band of emission may take place as visible light, for instance.
Fluorescence may be applied in a plurality of fields such as measurements of chemical and/or biological fluid samples, for example. The samples may have natural fluorescence or fluorescent reagents may be added to the sample. A chemical and/or biological process may change the amount of fluorescent reagent or compound in the sample and hence by measuring the strength of fluorescence it is possible to determine the progress or quality of the process.
Fluorescence is usually measured by directing ultraviolet light to a sample and by receiving forward scattered fluorescent optical radiation typically in the visible band by a detector. The detector, which may comprise a dispersing element and photomultipliers in front of each detecting element, transforms the received spectrum of optical radiation into an electrical signal which may further be converted into a digital form. The digital spectrum may be analyzed and the concentration of the fluorescent compound in the sample determined by a computer with a suitable signal processing program.
However, both the measurement arrangement and the optical and electrical signal processing are complicated. Moreover, low cost detectors for measuring ultraviolet absorption and ultraviolet fluorescence are not available at the moment. Additionally, calibration of the fluorescence measurement is difficult which deteriorates the accuracy of the measurement. Hence, there is a need for a low cost and accurate device for measuring fluorescence.

Optical apparatus and method for fluorescence measurement of analytes comprising backscattering detection


A partially-reduced iron producing apparatus includes: an exhaust gas circulating device which supplies an oxygen-containing gas to raw-material pellets to be heated by a heat of ignition raw-material pellets, the oxygen-containing gas made by circulating part of an exhaust gas discharged from the raw-material pellets by use of the heat of the ignition raw-material pellets heated in a heating furnace and mixing the discharged exhaust gas with air; and a liquid-tar separating device which is provided in the exhaust gas circulating device and which separates a tar component in the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas as a liquid tar.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a partially-reduced iron producing apparatus for producing a partially-reduced iron by reducing agglomerates containing an iron oxide.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, Patent Literature 1 listed below discloses a conventional technique of producing a partially-reduced iron by packing carbon composite pellets on a moving grate and heating and reducing the pellets, the carbon composite pellets not being added with a combustion carbon material.
However, the technique described in Patent Literature 1 has the following problems and a partially-reduced iron with a high degree of reduction cannot be obtained.
(1) After being dried, the carbon composite pellets are ignited with a gas torch and air is made to flow therethrough to combust and heat the carbon composite pellets. Accordingly, a portion of a packed bed of the carbon composite pellets on a side from which air enters keeps on combusting and reduction dose not proceed in this portion. Moreover, even if the reduction proceeds, the carbon composite pellets are reoxidized by air and thus the degree of reduction does not increase at all. Furthermore, since a high temperature state is maintained, a molten slag is excessively generated and an operation may thereby become difficult in some cases.
(2) The pellets having moved out of a carbonization area are heated by a high-temperature inert gas whose oxygen concentration is equal to 5% or less and metallization proceeds by using a remaining portion of carbonaceous material. However, the amount of remaining carbon is small and the degree of metallization is low. Moreover, until a lower portion of the packed bed reaches a high temperature, an upper portion of the packed bed is exposed to strong oxidizing gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapor generated from the high-temperature carbonaceous material and reoxidation of the upper portion thereby proceeds.
(3) A high-temperature gas in a metallization area where a large amount of heat is required is produced by combusting part of a flammable volatile component in the coal which is generated in the carbonization area and a CO gas which is generated by the reduction reaction. However, since the amount of flammable component is small with respect to the amount of the entire exhaust gas, a supplemental fuel is additionally required.
In view of the problems described above, for example, Patent Literatures 2 and 3 listed below each disclose a conventional technique of producing partially-reduced iron in which pellets formed by mixing and pelletizing a reduction carbon material, a fine iron ore, and a slag-forming flux are added with a combustion carbon material by coating the pellets with the combustion carbon material, the combustion carbon material is ignited, and then the pellets are subject to sintering with air being suctioned downward.

Partially-reduced iron producing apparatus


The present invention is concerned with the formation of submicron particles of an antineoplastic agent, particularly paclitaxel, by precipitating the antineoplastic agent in an aqueous medium to form a pre-suspension followed by homogenization. Surfactants with phospholipids conjugated with a water soluble or hydrophilic polymer such as PEG are used as coating for the particles. The particles produced generally have an average particle size of less than about 1000 nm and are not rapidly soluble.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is concerned with the formation of submicron particles of an antineoplastic agent, particularly paclitaxel or its derivative compounds, by precipitating the antineoplastic agent in an aqueous medium to form a pre-suspension followed by homogenization. Surfactants with phospholipids conjugated with a water soluble or hydrophilic polymer, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), are used as coating for the particles. The particles produced generally have an average particle size of less than about 1000 nm and are not rapidly soluble.
2. Background Art
There are an ever-increasing number of organic compounds being formulated for therapeutic or diagnostic effects that are poorly soluble or insoluble in aqueous solutions. Such drugs provide challenges to delivering them by the administrative routes detailed above. Compounds that are insoluble in water can have significant benefits when formulated as a stable suspension of sub-micron particles. Accurate control of particle size is essential for safe and efficacious use of these formulations. Particles must be less than seven microns in diameter to safely pass through capillaries without causing emboli (Allen et al., 1987; Davis and Taube, 1978; Schroeder et al., 1978; Yokel et al., 1981). One solution to this problem is the production of small particles of the insoluble drug candidate and the creation of a microparticulate or nanoparticulate suspension. In this way, drugs that were previously unable to be formulated in an aqueous based system can be made suitable for intravenous administration. Suitability for intravenous administration includes small particle size (<7 μm), low toxicity (as from toxic formulation components or residual solvents), and bioavailability of the drug particles after administration.
Preparations of small particles of water insoluble drugs may also be suitable for oral, pulmonary, topical, ophthalmic, nasal, buccal, rectal, vaginal, transdermal administration, or other routes of administration. The small size of the particles improves the dissolution rate of the drug, and hence improving its bioavailability and potentially its toxicity profiles. When administered by these routes, it may be desirable to have particle size in the range of 5 to 100 μm, depending on the route of administration, formulation, solubility, and bioavailability of the drug. For example, for oral administration, it is desirable to have a particle size of less than about 7 μm. For pulmonary administration, the particles are preferably less than about 10 μm in size.

Method for preparing submicron particles of antineoplastic agents