Highly neutralized acid polymer compositions having a low moisture vapor transmission rate and their use in golf balls

1 . A golf ball having at least one layer formed from a polymer composition, wherein the polymer composition has a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of 8 g-mil/100 in 2 /day or less and comprises a highly neutralized acid polymer.

2 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein at least 90% of the acid groups of the highly neutralized acid polymer are neutralized.

3 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition has an MVTR of 5 g-mil/100 in 2 /day or less.

4 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the highly neutralized acid polymer is a salt of an copolymer of an olefin, from 4 wt % to 35 wt % of an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, based on the total weight of the copolymer, and from 0 wt % to 50 wt % of a C 1 -C 8 alkyl (meth) acrylate, based on the total weight of the copolymer.

5 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the highly neutralized acid polymer is a blend of two or more independently selected highly neutralized acid polymers.

6 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the highly neutralized acid polymer is produced by a process comprising contacting one or acid polymer(s) with a sufficient amount of a less hydrophilic cation source, in the presence of a melt flow modifier, to increase the level of neutralization of the acid copolymer(s) to at least 70%.

7 . The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the cation source is selected from a metal ion or compound of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, or a combination thereof, and wherein the cation source is less hydrophilic than magnesium.

8 . The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the cation source selected from metal ions and compounds of potassium, cesium, calcium, barium, manganese, copper, zinc, and tin; silicone, silane, and silicate derivatives and complex ligands; and metal ions and compounds of rare earth elements.

9 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition is produced by a process comprising contacting one or more acid polymer(s) with an organic acid or a metal salt of an organic acid and a sufficient amount of a less hydrophilic cation source such that at least 70% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

10 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the acid polymer is partially neutralized prior to contacting with the less hydrophilic cation source.

11 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the less hydrophilic cation source is selected from metal ions and compounds of potassium, cesium, calcium, barium, manganese, copper, zinc, and tin; silicone, silane, and silicate derivatives and complex ligands; and metal ions and compounds of rare earth elements.

12 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the organic acid selected from the group consisting of aliphatic organic acids, aromatic organic acids, saturated mono-functional organic acids, unsaturated mono-functional organic acids, and multi-unsaturated mono-functional organic acids, salts thereof, and combinations thereof.

13 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, erucic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, myristic acid, benzoic acid, palmitic acid, phenylacetic acid, naphthalenoic acid, dimerized derivatives thereof, salts thereof, and combinations thereof.

14 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the metal of the organic acid salt is selected from the group consisting of alkali, alkaline earth, and transition elements, and wherein the metal ion is less hydrophilic than a magnesium ion.

15 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the organic acid salt is produced using a cation source selected from metal ions and compounds of potassium, cesium, calcium, barium, manganese, copper, zinc, and tin; silicone, silane, and silicate derivatives and complex ligands; and metal ions and compounds of rare earth elements.

16 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises a core and a cover, wherein the cover is formed from said polymer composition, and wherein the core is formed from a reaction product of a rubber, a crosslinking agent, a filler, a free radical initiator, and optionally a cis-to-trans catalyst.

17 . The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the core has an Atti compression of from 10 to 100, a surface hardness of from 20 Shore D to 70 Shore D, and a diameter of from 1.00 inches to 1.63 inches; and wherein the cover has a thickness of from 0.020 inches to 0.350 inches.

18 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises a core and a cover, wherein the core is formed from said polymer composition, and wherein the cover is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of ionomer resins, blends of ionomer resins, highly neutralized polymers, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoset polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurea, thermoset polyurea, and blends thereof.

19 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises a core, a cover, and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, wherein the intermediate layer is formed from said polymer composition; and wherein the core is formed from a reaction product of a rubber, a crosslinking agent, a filler, a free radical initiator, and optionally a cis-to-trans catalyst.

20 . A golf ball having at least one layer formed from a polymer composition having a moisture vapor transmission rate of 5 g-mil/100 in 2 /day or less and comprising at least 30 wt % of an ethylene/(meth) acrylic acid copolymer, based on the total polymeric weight of the polymer composition, wherein at least 90% of the acid groups of the acid copolymer are neutralized.