Golf ball and thermoplastic material

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a novel thermoplastic material and a golf ball utilizing the thermoplastic material of the invention. The golf ball ( 10 ) preferably comprises a core ( 12 ), a cover ( 16 ) and, optionally, a boundary layer ( 14 ). At least one of the core ( 12 ), cover ( 16 ) or boundary layer ( 14 ) of the golf ball ( 10 ) comprises a thermoplastic material according to the invention. A thermoplastic material of the invention comprises a partially to highly neutralized blend of an acid copolymer, a copolymer comprising a metallocene-catalyzed alpha-olefin and a softening comonomer, and a fatty acid or fatty acid salt.

1 . A process for forming a thermoplastic material, the process comprising:
 blending 30 to 60 parts of a first copolymer of an alpha olefin and an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid with 30 to 60 parts of a second copolymer of a metallocene-catalyzed alpha olefin and a softening comonomer to create a first mixture;   adding 40 to 70 parts of an oleic acid to the first mixture;   adding 5 to 15 parts of magnesium hydroxide to the first mixture;   mixing the oleic acid and magnesium hydroxide into the first mixture to create a second mixture;   cooling the second mixture;   extruding the second mixture to neutralize a plurality of acid groups of the second mixture to form a neutralized mixture;   forming an article from the neutralized mixture.   
   
   
       2 . The process according to  claim 1  further comprising granulating the second mixture prior to extruding. 
   
   
       3 . The process according to  claim 1  further comprising extruding the neutralized mixture prior to forming an article. 
   
   
       4 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the article formed is a core for a golf ball. 
   
   
       5 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the article formed is a boundary layer for a golf ball. 
   
   
       6 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the second copolymer is an ethylene/octene.