| abstract |
This invention relates to copolymers containing an alpha-olefin and alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid plasticized with a selected long-chain fatty acid. In a preferred embodiment, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers and their respective salts, i.e. ionomers, are plasticized using a selected long-chain fatty acid. The plasticized copolymers so obtained are generally characterized by having higher melt index, lower glass transition temperature (TG), greater flexibility, lower stiffness, higher resiliency and easier processibility than the corresponding unplasticized copolymers. |