Golf ball and thermoplastic material
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 thermoplastic material consisting essentially of:
approximately 50 parts by weight of a first copolymer comprising an alpha olefin, an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid and a softening comonomer;
approximately 50 parts by weight of a second copolymer comprising a metallocene-catalyzed alpha olefin and a softening comonomer;
11 parts by weight magnesium hydroxide; and
approximately 66 parts by weight of oleic acid;
wherein the thermoplastic material is 100% neutralized.
2. The thermoplastic material according to claim 1 , wherein, in the first copolymer, the softening comonomer is an alkyl acrylate or an alkyl methacrylate.
3. The thermoplastic material according to claim 1 , wherein, in the second copolymer, the softening comonomer is an alpha olefin.
4. The thermoplastic material according to claim 3 , wherein, in the second copolymer, the alpha olefin is selected from the group consisting of butene, hexene, octene and 4-methyl-1-pentene.