| abstract |
Described in embodiments herein are ionomers comprising a neutralized blend of an ethylene acid copolymer, an aliphatic and a mono-functional organic acid. The blend includes from 40 wt % to 95 wt % of the ethylene acid copolymer, from 5 to 50 wt % of the aliphatic, mono-functional organic acid, based on the total weight of the blend. The ethylene acid copolymer is the polymerized reaction product of ethylene, from 1 to 25 wt % of monocarboxylic acid and from 1 to 40 wt % of alkyl acrylate, based on the total weight of the monomers present in the ethylene acid copolymer. The aliphatic, mono-functional organic acid has fewer than 36 carbon atoms. In various embodiments, at least 70 mole % of total acid units are neutralized with both a trivalent cation and either a mono- or di-valent cation. |