US Patent 7723422 Functionalized block copolymers

Reinforced copolymers formed from a functionalized copolymer that undergoes a reactive extrusion process with an inorganic component to form the reinforced copolymer. The functionalized copolymer in the form of a block and/or graft copolymer includes hard segments and soft segments, where the soft segments are covalently bonded with a coupling agent either before or after copolymerization with the hard segments. The reinforced copolymer of the present disclosure can be suitable for use as a biomaterial and/or in medical devices.