E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

John Francis Hagman

Robert J Statz

John Chu Chen

Chi-Kai Shih

Jon P Braemer

A thermoplastic composition is provided, comprising (a) an acid copolymer, (b) a salt of a high molecular weight, monomeric organic acid; (c) a thermoplastic resin; (d) a cation source; and (e) optionally, a filler. Also provided are one-, two- and three-piece golf balls, and multi-layered golf balls comprising the composition of the invention.

Highly-resilient thermoplastic compositions

A thermoplastic composition of (a) an acid copolymer, (b) a salt of a high molecular weight, monomeric organic acid; (c) a thermoplastic polymer selected from copolyetheresters, elastomeric polyolefins, styrene diene block copolymers, elastomeric polyolefins thermoplastic polyurethanes and copolyetheramides; (d) cation source; and (d) optionally a filler. Also included is use of such compositions in components of one-, two- and three-piece golf balls or multi-layered golf balls made therefrom.

Highly-resilient thermoplastic elastomer compositions

Ionomers based on ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers are modified with from 0.5 to 15 weight percent adipic acid. The modified-ionomers have improved melt flow and melt processing behavior over unmodified ionomers having a comparable level of neutralization of acid groups present. Certain mechanical properties are improved, particularly stiffness, abrasion resistance and low temperature izod impact. The ionomers modified with adipic acid are in particular suitable for balata ball replacement when formulated as golf ball cover compositions and covers.

Modified-ionomers having improved properties and processability

Novel, soft, low modulus ethylene copolymer ionomer compositions containing an acrylate softening monomer, neutralized with magnesium or lithium ions possess a higher level of resilience at a given level of PGA Compressibility than known ionomers. The advantage is maintained in certain blend compositions with harder ionomers for blends having a neat-sphere PGA Compression below about 155. Both unblended and blended compositions will be useful as golf balls and components of golf balls, for one-piece balls, centers, cores and covers of golf balls.

Soft ionomer compositions and blends thereof and use thereof as golf

Ionomer resins made by neutralizing acid copolymers with a high melt index, corresponding to a relatively low molecular weight, but which have been relatively highly neutralized, can be used, either alone or in blends with other ionomers, as materials for golf ball covers, without loss of key properties for that application. The materials have better flow and better processability than conventional ionomeric materials used for golf balls.

High flow ionomer resin compositions useful for golf ball covers

Ionomers derived from ethylene/methacrylic acid or ethylene/acrylic acid copolymers, containing high levels of acid neutralized with lithium, zinc and sodium are blended in defined amounts to form compositions with very high resilience. The compositions are highly suitable for use as golf ball covers.

High-resilience ionomeric compositions for golf ball covers

The invention provides compositions useful in the manufacture of one-, two- and three-piece golfballs comprising blends of a copolyetherester or copolyetheramide, an expoxy-containing compound, and an acid-containing ethylene copolymer ionomer.

Compositions useful in the manufacture of golfballs

Blends of 5 to 97.5% of a segmented thermoplastic copolyester such as polybutylene terephthalate containing polybutane glycol segments with 95 to 20% of a blend of an ethylene copolymer and 5 to 75% either polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride. The polyethylene copolymer is an elastomeric blend of polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride with a copolymer of ethylene and esters of ethylenically unsaturated acids, vinyl esters, vinyl alkyl ethers, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, norbornene, alpha-olefins of 3-12 carbon atoms and optionally ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. The blends are processable temperatures lower than either component they are prepared from.

Elastomer blends

The processability of an uncured soft elastomer is improved by blending the elastomer under shear conditions with a terpolymer of ethylene with carbon monoxide and with a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer in the presence of a crosslinking agent for polymer (T) which does not substantially cure elastomer (E). Gel resulting from crosslinking polymer (T) improves the properties of the blend as compared with the soft elastomer alone. When elastomer (E) and the crosslinking agent for polymer (T) risk undergoing a reaction which would result in substantially crosslinking elastomer (E), one may substitute another soft elastomer (E.sub.1) for elastomer (E) to avoid this undesirable result and then blend the resulting composition with elastomer (E).

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Wilmington, DE, United States of America

John Francis Hagman