Bi-modal ionomers

• US 7,273,903 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Performance Materials NA, Inc. (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, John Chu
• Primary Examiner(s): Nutter; Nathan M.
• Application Number:
  US11/101,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 524/430, 524/432, 524/500, 524/515
• US Class Current: 524/430
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0034 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0046 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/02 containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/025 containing two or more polymers of the same hierarchy C08L, and differing only in parameters such as density, comonomer content, molecular weight, structure
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/035 containing four or more polymers in a blend
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/025 Copolymer of an unspecified olefin with a monomer other than an olefin
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/08 Copolymers of ethene C08L23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0869 Acids or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0876 Neutralised polymers, i.e. ionomers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/04 Macromolecular compounds according to groups C08L7/00 - C08L49/00, or C08L55/00 - C08L57/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/06 Homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated hydrocarbons; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/14 Macromolecular compounds according to C08L59/00 - C08L87/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 53/02 of vinyl-aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/025 containing polyether sequences
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and preparative process of partially or fully neutralized mixtures of carboxylate functionalized ethylene high copolymers or terpolymers (Mw between 80,000 and 500,000) with carboxylate functionalized ethylene low copolymers (Mw between 2,000 and 30,000) and organic acid salts and injection or compression molded applications such as golf ball components thereof.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising a thermoplastic composition, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises

(a) a bimodal composition consisting essentially of

(i) E/X/Y copolymers where E is ethylene, X is derived from a C3 to C8 α

,β

ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and Y is a softening comonomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and alkyl methacrylates, wherein the alkyl groups have from 1-8 carbon atoms, or ionomers of the E/X/Y copolymers wherein X is about 2-30 wt. % of the E/X/Y copolymer, and Y is 0 to about 35 wt. % of the E/X/Y copolymer; and

(ii) 5-50 wt. % based on (i)+(ii) of one or more E/(M)AA copolymers having 3-25 wt. % (M)AA or salts thereof; and

, optionally,

(b) up to 200 wt. % based on (i)+(ii) of a thermoplastic elastomeric resin selected from the group consisting of copolyetheramides, copolyetheresters, elastomeric polymerolefins, block polystyrene polydiene copolymers, and thermoplastic urethanes;

wherein the E/X/Y copolymers have an Mw in the range of 80,000 to 500,000, and the E/(M)AA copolymers have an Mw between 2,000 and 30,000;

wherein the acid of (i) and of (ii) is partially neutralized; and

further wherein the golf ball has one or more components, and wherein sufficient filler is added to one or more components of the golf ball to adjust the weight of the golf ball to a level meeting the limits set by golfer'"'"'s governing authority.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least 40% of the acid of (i) and of (ii) is neutralized.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the bimodal composition comprises 1-30 wt. % based on (i)+(ii) of the thermoplastic elastomeric resin.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises two or more of the bimodal compositions.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic composition further comprises at least one additional iomomer.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, being a one-piece golf ball.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, having a cover, wherein the cover comprises the bimodal composition.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, being a multi-layer golf ball having at least one mantle or intermediate layer, wherein the at least one mantle or intermediate layer comprises the bimodal composition.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, being a two-piece, three-piece, or multiple piece golf ball having a center or a core, wherein the center, the core, or a part of the core comprises the bimodal composition.

10. A golf ball comprising a thermoplastic composition, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises

(a) a bimodal composition consisting essentially of:

(i) E/X/Y copolymers where E is ethylene, X is derived from a C3 to C8 α

,β

ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and Y is a softening comonomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and alkyl methacrylates, wherein the alkyl groups have from 1-8 carbon atoms, or ionomers of the E/X/Y copolymers wherein X is about 2-30 wt. % of the E/X/Y copolymer, and Y is 0 to about 35 wt. % of the E/X/Y copolyrner; and

(ii) 5-50 wt. % based on (a)+(b) of one or more E/(M)AA copolymers having 3-25 wt. % (M)AA or salts thereof; and

(b) 5-50 wt. % based on (i)+(ii) of one or more aliphatic, mono-functional organic acids having fewer than 30 carbon atoms or salt thereof; and

, optionally,

(c) up to 200 wt. % based on (i)+(ii) of a thermoplastic elastomeric resin selected from the group consisting of copolyetheramides, copolyetheresters, elastomeric polymerolefins, block polystyrene polydiene copolymers, and thermoplastic urethanes;

wherein the E/X/Y copolymers have an Mw in the range of 80,000 to 500,000, and the E/(M)AA copolyxners have an Mw between 2,000 and 30,000;

wherein the acid of (i) and of (ii) and of (b) is partially neutralized; and

further wherein the golf ball has one or more components, and wherein sufficient filler is added to one or more components of the golf ball to adjust the weight of the golf ball to a level meeting the limits set by the golfer'"'"'s governing authority.

11. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein greater than 80% of all the acid of (i) and of (ii) and of (b) is neutralized.

12. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the bimodal composition comprises 1 to 30 wt. % based on (i) +(ii) of the thermoplastic elastomeric resin.

13. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises two or more of the bimodal compositions.

14. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic composition further comprises at least one additional iomomer.

15. The golf ball of claim 10, being a one-piece golf ball.

16. The golf ball of claim 10, having a cover, wherein the cover comprises the bimodal composition.

17. The golf ball of claim 10, being a multi-layer golf ball having at least one mantle or intermediate layer, wherein the at least one mantle or intermediate layer comprises the bimodal composition.

18. The golf ball of claim 10, being a two-piece, three-piece, or multiple piece golf ball having a center or a core;

wherein the center, the core, or a part of the core comprises the bimodal composition.