E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Acushnet Company

Robert J Statz

John Francis Hagman

John Chu Chen

Murali Rajagopalan

Ronald B Case

Kathryn A Kamins

James K Doty

Richard T Chou

James White

Gary L Loomis

Elizabeth R Griffin

Kaye L Motz

Charles Vincent Murphy

Donald R Marshall

Jon P Braemer

Roger A Latham

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

Thermoplastics with high resilience (high coefficient of restitution) and softness (low Atti compressions) and their use in golf ball components. Melt-processible, highly-neutralized ethylene acid copolymers and process for making them by incorporating an aliphatic, mono-functional organic acid in the acid copolymer and then neutralizing greater than 90% of all the acid groups present.

Highly-neutralized ethylene copolymers and their use in golf balls

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

Melt-processable, highly-neutralized ethylene, C to C &agr;,&bgr; ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers and process for making them. Copolymers are made by incorporating a C to less than a C aliphatic, mono-functional organic acid and neutralizing greater than 90% to 100% of the acid groups present concurrently with or subsequently to the incorporation of the organic acid.

Highly-neutralized ethylene copolymers

The present invention relates to polyepoxy-polymer-linked-asphalt having enhanced properties made by reacting a glycidyl-functionalized ethylene copolymer with reactive asphalt, wherein the glycidyl-functionalized ethylene copolymer has a glycidyl-containing comonomer content of 5 weight percent or less and relatively high number average molecular weight characterized by a melt index of 4 grams/10 minutes or less measured in accord with ASTM D1238-65T, Condition E.

Expoxy functionalized ethylene copolymer asphalt reaction products

This invention is directed towards golf balls comprising at least a cover and a core, and optionally one or more intermediate layers, wherein the cover and/or the intermediate layer(s) are formed from a high crystalline copolymer or its ionomer derivatives and blends thereof, wherein the high crystalline copolymer is formed from an ethylene/carboxylic acid copolymer comprising about 5 to about 35 percent by weight acrylic or methacrylic acid, wherein the copolymer is polymerized at a temperature of about 130&deg; C. to 200&deg; C. at pressures of at least 20,000 psi to about 50,000 psi, wherein up to about 70 percent of the acid groups are neutralized with a metal ion.

Golf ball compositions containing high crystalline acid copolymers and their ionomer derivatives

This invention is directed towards golf balls comprising at least a cover and a core, and optionally one or more intermediate layers, wherein the cover and/or the intermediate layer(s) are formed from a high crystalline copolymer or its ionomer derivatives and blends thereof, wherein the high crystalline copolymer is formed from an ethylene/carboxylic acid copolymer comprising about 5 to about 35 percent by weight acrylic or methacrylic acid, wherein the copolymer is polymerized at a temperature of about 130.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. at pressures of at least 20,000 psi to about 50,000 psi, wherein up to about 70 percent of the acid groups are neutralized with a metal ion.

Golf ball compositions containing high crystalline acid copolymers and

Grafted thermoplastic elastomer compositions formed by melt blending of a minor proportion of a thermoplastic material having a high softening point with a minor proportion of a glycidyl-containing copolymer, followed by melt blending of the thermoplastic material/glycidyl-containing copolymer blend with a major proportion of an acid-containing ethylene copolymer have a unique combination of unexpectedly good high temperature properties, compression set resistance and/or rebound.

Thermoplastic elastomeric compositions

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

The invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the cover comprises a blend of at least one olefinic ionomer and a terpolymer, said terpolymer comprising a first monomeric component comprising an olefinic monomer having from about 2 to about 8 carbon atoms, a second monomeric component selected from unsaturated acrylate class ester having from about 2 to about 18 carbon atoms; and, a third monomeric component comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, anhydride monomers and monomers having a structure according to the following formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or a linear chain or branched chain alkyl group of from about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of linear chain or branched chain alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic and substituted aryl groups containing an epoxy, i.e., glycidyl moiety.

Golf ball covers

New Ionomer compositions which have improved moldability and improved high temperature behavior are based on ionomer polymerized at normal pressures but lower than normal temperatures. The compositions may be blends with standard ionomer, particularly if the low-temperature-prepared ionomer is prepared at very low temperatures which reduces productivity compared with standard ionomer, or useful alone when prepared at intermediate temperatures.

Ionomers with improved high temperature properties and improved

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

A method of protecting metals against corrosion involves applying to the metal a thermoplastic coating based on copolymers of ethylene with a glycidyl comonomer, optionally containing a filler such as zinc powder or flake. The method may involve use of the coating alone, or as a primer coating with an outer coating of an olefin-based polymer.

Method of protecting metal against corrosion with thermoplatic coatings

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.

Growing community of inventors

Kennett Square, PA, United States of America

Robert J Statz