Abstract: The present technology provides a carboxylic acid-modified nitrile-based copolymer latex including a carboxylic acid-modified nitrile-based copolymer including a conjugated diene-based monomer-derived unit, an ethylenic unsaturated nitrile-based monomer-derived unit, and an ethylenic unsaturated acid monomer-derived unit, wherein a pKa is 9.5 to 10.2, and the carboxylic acid-modified nitrile-based copolymer latex satisfies General Formulas 1 and 2.

Abstract: The present technology provides a carboxylic acid-modified nitrile-based copolymer latex including a carboxylic acid-modified nitrile-based copolymer including a conjugated diene-based monomer-derived unit, an ethylenic unsaturated nitrile-based monomer-derived unit, and an ethylenic unsaturated acid monomer-derived unit, wherein the carboxylic acid-modified nitrile-based copolymer latex satisfies General Formulas 1 and General Formula 2.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing composition useful as a support material for common build materials (e.g., polyamide or polyester) is comprised of a blend of an elastomer toughened styrenic polymer having discreet domains of polymerized conjugate diene dispersed within a styrenic matrix and a vinyl aromatic-maleic anhydride copolymer. The composition may be used as a support material in additive manufacturing methods such as extrusion methods (e.g., fused filament fabrication). The compositions may be tuned to realize the desired adherence to facilitate the desired support while also allowing for the mechanical removal without breakage of the underlying part or residual adhered support material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multi-arm star macromolecules which are used as thickening agents or rheology modifiers, including use in hydraulic fracturing fluid compositions. In one aspect of the invention, a star macromolecule is capable of thickening via a dual mechanism comprising (1) self-assembly of the hydrophobic polymerized segments of the star macromolecules via hydrophobic interactions or associations, and (2) association, reaction, or combination of the hydroxyl-containing polymerized segments of one or more of the star macromolecules.

Abstract: A reaction resin mortar curable by frontal polymerization is described, comprising at least one radically polymerizable compound (a), at least one thiol-functionalized compound (b) and at least one polymerization initiator (c), wherein the weight ratio of the at least one radically polymerizable compound (a) and the at least one thiol-functionalized compound (b) is in the range of 10:1 to 2:1 and wherein the polymerization initiator (c) is selected from compounds which can be thermally activated and/or thermally released at a temperature of above 30° C. and/or ammonium persulfates which are formed in-situ from at least one organically substituted ammonium salt and at least one inorganic persulfate as well as a method for fixing anchor rods, rebars or the like in bore holes using the reaction resin mortar.

Abstract: A process for the production of methacrylic acid or esters thereof by the base catalysed decarboxylation of at least one dicarboxylic acid selected from itaconic, citraconic or mesaconic acid or mixtures thereof in an aqueous reaction medium is described. The decarboxylation is carried out at a temperature in the range from 200° C. and up to 239° C. The methacrylic acid is isolated from the aqueous reaction medium by a purification process which does not include introducing an organic solvent to the aqueous reaction medium for solvent extraction of the methacrylic acid into an organic phase. A method of preparing polymers or copolymers of methacrylic acid or methacrylic acid esters is also described.

Abstract: A process for the production of methacrylic acid by the base catalysed decarboxylation of at least one dicarboxylic acid selected from itaconic, citraconic or mesaconic acid or mixtures thereof is described. The decarboxylation is carried out at a temperature in the range from 100 to 199° C. A method of preparing polymers or copolymers of methacrylic acid or methacrylic acid esters is also described.

Abstract: A secondary battery negative electrode composite particle including a negative electrode active material and a particulate polymer, wherein the particulate polymer include 10% by weight to 60% by weight of a (meth)acrylonitrile monomer unit and 35% by weight to 85% by weight of an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit; and a residual amount of an organic compound having an unsaturated bond and a boiling point of 150° C. to 300° C. is 500 ppm or less as a ratio relative to an amount of the particulate polymer.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a printed wiring board that can prevent generation of crack and warpage is provided. A process for the preparation of a printed wiring board, comprising a step of forming a curable resin layer and a non-curable resin layer sequentially on a surface of a substrate; a step of forming depressions in the non-curable resin layer and the curable resin layer from the non-curable resin layer side; a step of applying a catalyst for plating to a surface of the non-curable resin layer and surfaces of the depressions; a step of removing the non-curable resin layer and the catalyst for plating provided on the surface of the non-curable resin layer; and a step of electroless plating the surfaces of the depressions.

Abstract: Ethylene-based interpolymers, e.g., ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, are made by a process comprising the steps of: A. Injecting a first feed comprising a chain transfer agent system (CTA system) and ethylene into a first autoclave reactor zone to produce a first zone reaction product, the CTA system of the first reactor zone having a transfer activity Z1; and B. (1) Transferring at least part of the first zone reaction product to a second reactor zone selected from a second autoclave reactor zone or a tubular reactor zone, and (2) at least one of transferring or freshly injecting a feed comprising a CTA system into the second reactor zone to produce a second zone reaction product, the CTA system of the second reactor zone having a transfer activity of Z2; and with the proviso that the ratio of Z1:Z2 is greater than 1. The comonomer comprises at least one carboxylic acid group or an anhydride group.

Abstract: A quaternized copolymer obtainable by: (A) copolymerization of straight-chain, branched or cyclic, ethylenically unsaturated C2 to C100 hydrocarbons, which may bear oxygen- or nitrogen-functional substituents which cannot be reacted with amines to give amides or imides or with alcohols to give esters, with ethylenically unsaturated C3- to C12-mono- or dicarboxylic acids or acid derivatives, which can be reacted with amines to give amides or imides or with alcohols to give esters, to give a copolymer with a number-average molecular weight of 500 to 20 000; (B) partial or full amidation or imidation or esterification of the carboxylic acid functions by reacting them with oligoamines having 2 to 6 nitrogen atoms or alcoholamines, each of which comprises primary or secondary nitrogen atom or a hydroxyl group and a quaternizable tertiary nitrogen atom; (C) partial or full quaternization of the tertiary nitrogen atom with a quaternizing agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal complex of group 10 elements of the periodic table having a carboxylate structure represented by formula (C2); a catalyst for polymerization of olefin mainly comprising the metal complex; and a method for producing polymers by homopolymerizing olefin represented by formula (1), polymerizing two or more kinds of the above olefin, or copolymerizing olefin represented by formula (1) with polar group-containing olefin represented by formula (2) (the meaning of the symbols are as set forth in the description) using the catalyst. A metal complex of group 10 elements of the periodic table, in which all of the coordinating atoms to the metal are a hetero atom is stable and useful as a catalyst component for olefin polymerization, and can be used for a long time in homopolymerization of olefin or copolymerization of two or more kinds of olefin.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin structure having an ablation layer for a photosensitive resin for a relief printing that is capable of being processed by infrared radiation and containing an anionic polymer, a relief printing plate is produced by drawing a pattern by irradiating the ablation layer with infrared radiation; exposing the pattern by irradiating the photosensitive resin layer with ultraviolet radiation; and removing the ablation layer and unexposed photosensitive resin layer with a developer.

Abstract: A high pressure polymerization process to form an ethylene-based polymer comprises the steps of: A. Injecting a first feed comprising ethylene and optionally a chain transfer agent system (CTA system) into a first autoclave reactor zone operating at polymerization conditions to produce a first zone reaction product, the CTA system of the first reactor zone having a transfer activity Z1; and B. (1) Transferring at least part of the first zone reaction product to a second reactor zone selected from a second autoclave reactor zone or a tubular reactor zone and operating at polymerization conditions, and, optionally, (2) freshly injecting a second feed into the second reactor zone to produce a second zone reaction product, with the proviso that the second reactor zone contains a CTA system having a transfer activity Z2; and with the proviso that the ratio of Z1/Z2 is less than 1.

Abstract: Styrenic (meth)acrylic oligomers that are prepared at lower temperature than conventional solid grade oligomers, or are hydrogenated, contain fewer terminal vinylic unsaturations, when compared to such conventional styrenic (meth)acrylic oligomers prepared by the customary high temperature processes. Styrenic (meth)acrylic oligomers that contain fewer terminal vinylic unsaturations demonstrate improved thermal stability and may provide improved resistance to UV weathering compared to the conventional and non-hydrogenated styrenic (meth)acrylic oligomers.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an extruder (10), particularly for extruding a synthetic rubber product, which comprises a barrel (24), one or several extruder elements (12, 14), particularly one or several extruder screws and/or a kneader elements (14), arranged inside the barrel (24) for conveying the product, optionally an inlet port for feeding a stripping agent into the barrel (24) and an outlet port for removing volatile compounds from the product and, where applicable, the stripping agent. According to the invention a perforated die plate (26) is fixed to the barrel (24) in flow direction before the outlet port. Since the die plate (26) is not fixed to the extruder elements (12, 14) but to the barrel (24) a circumferential clearance between the die plate (26) and the barrel (24) is prevented so that no extruded material is passing the die plate (26) radially outside.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monolithic organic copolymer prepared by copolymerization of at least one monomer of the group consisting of styrene, (C1-C3)alkylstyrene, (meth)acrylic acid and esters thereof with a crosslinker in the presence of a macroporogen and a microporogen, wherein a) the sum of said at least one monomer of the group and the crosslinker is 10-20%, preferably 10-15%, by volume of the reaction mixture, with the rest being essentially macroporogen and microporogen, and the degree of said copolymerization is at least 70%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 99%, or b) the sum of said at least one monomer of the group and the crosslinker is 30-50%, preferably 35-45%, by volume of the reaction mixture, with the rest being essentially macroporogen and microporogen, and the degree of said copolymerization is in the range of 25-60%, preferably 35-50%.

Abstract: Disclosed is a copolymer latex obtained by emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture containing (a) 30-70% by mass of a conjugated diene monomer, (b) 0.1-15% by mass of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer and (c) 15-69.9% by mass of one or more other copolymerizable monomers. The copolymer latex is characterized in that the toluene in-soluble content in the dried product obtained by drying the copolymer latex is 95-100% by mass; the mass ratio of the toluene-swollen toluene insoluble content to the dried toluene insoluble content (the toluene swelling degree) is 3.0-6.5; the number average particle diameter of the copolymer latex is 180-400 nm; and the glass transition starting temperature of the dried copolymer latex is within the range from ?70° C. to ?20° C. and the glass transition ending temperature thereof is within the range from 10° C. to 100° C. in differential scanning calorimetry.

Abstract: Ethylene-based interpolymers, e.g., ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, are made by a process comprising the steps of: A. Injecting a first feed comprising a chain transfer agent system (CTA system) and ethylene into a first autoclave reactor zone to produce a first zone reaction product, the CTA system of the first reactor zone having a transfer activity Z1; and B. (1) Transferring at least part of the first zone reaction product to a second reactor zone selected from a second autoclave reactor zone or a tubular reactor zone, and (2) at least one of transferring or freshly injecting a feed comprising a CTA system into the second reactor zone to produce a second zone reaction product, the CTA system of the second reactor zone having a transfer activity of Z2; and with the proviso that the ratio of Z1:Z2 is greater than 1. The comonomer comprises at least one carboxylic acid group or an anhydride group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation and use of polymer complements to ?-amyloid peptides (A?) for detecting soluble or aggregated A? in fluid samples or for treating a subject having a neurodegenerative disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal complex of group 10 elements of the periodic table having a carboxylate structure represented by formula (C2); a catalyst for polymerization of olefin mainly comprising the metal complex; and a method for producing polymers by homopolymerizing olefin represented by formula (1), polymerizing two or more kinds of the above olefin, or copolymerizing olefin represented by formula (1) with polar group-containing olefin represented by formula (2) (the meaning of the symbols are as set forth in the description) using the catalyst. A metal complex of group 10 elements of the periodic table, in which all of the coordinating atoms to the metal are a hetero atom is stable and useful as a catalyst component for olefin polymerization, and can be used for a long time in homopolymerization of olefin or copolymerization of two or more kinds of olefin.

Abstract: A developer includes a toner containing at least a binder resin, wherein the toner has a molecular weight distribution Mz/Mw of 2.0 or smaller and a phase angle of viscoelasticity of 65° or greater.

Abstract: A pattern forming material contains a block copolymer or graft copolymer and forms a structure having micro polymer phases, in which, with respect to at least two polymer chains among polymer chains constituting the block copolymer or graft copolymer, the ratio between N/(Nc?No) values of monomer units constituting respective polymer chains is 1.4 or more, where N represents total number of atoms in the monomer unit, Nc represents the number of carbon atoms in the monomer unit, No represents the number of oxygen atoms in the monomer unit.

Abstract: A method of coating surfaces of plastic or metal, which comprises treating the plastic or metal surface in question with an aqueous dispersion comprising (A) at least one ethylene copolymer having a molecular weight Mn in the range from 2000 to 20 000 g/mol, selected from ethylene copolymers comprising as comonomers in copolymerized form (a) 15.5% to 19.9% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated C3-C10 carboxylic acid and (b) 80.1% to 84.5% by weight of ethylene, (B) at least one base, in one step and subsequently providing in at least one further step the metal or plastic surface in question with at least one further coat.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball resin composition excellent in resilience. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in a shot feeling and resilience. The golf ball resin composition of the present invention is characterized in that a storage modulus E? (Pa) and a loss modulus E? (Pa) satisfy a following expression; log(E?/E?2)??6.08 when measured at the conditions of the temperature of 12° C., the oscillation frequency of 10 Hz, and a strain of 0.05% in a tensile mode using a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring apparatus.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball resin composition excellent in resilience. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in a shot feeling and resilience. The present invention provides a golf ball resin composition having the spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) of 13C nucleus measured by a High resolution solid state carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method of 7.3 seconds or shorter.

Abstract: Styrenic (meth)acrylic oligomers that are prepared at lower temperature than conventional solid grade oligomers, or are hydrogenated, contain fewer terminal vinylic unsaturations, when compared to such conventional styrenic (meth)acrylic oligomers prepared by the customary high temperature processes. Styrenic (meth)acrylic oligomers that contain fewer terminal vinylic unsaturations demonstrate improved thermal stability and may provide improved resistance to UV weathering compared to the conventional and non-hydrogenated styrenic (meth)acrylic oligomers.

Abstract: An emulsion polymerization copolymer comprising 59-77 phr butadiene, 10-16 phr styrene; 10-16 phr acrylonitrile; and from 3-9 phr methacrylic acid is soluble in acetone for U.S. EPA-exempt, low-VOC emissions, while also soluble in toluene. The composition is formulated with a tackifying resin; a plasticizer oil; and a U.S. EPA-exempt solvent, preferably acetone, to make an adhesive. The formulation is particularly useful as a pressure sensitive adhesive for tape and for making shoes.

Abstract: A pattern forming material contains a block copolymer or graft copolymer and forms a structure having micro polymer phases, in which, with respect to at least two polymer chains among polymer chains constituting the block copolymer or graft copolymer, the ratio between N/(Nc?No) values of monomer units constituting respective polymer chains is 1.4 or more, where N represents total number of atoms in the monomer unit, Nc represents the number of carbon atoms in the monomer unit, No represents the number of oxygen atoms in the monomer unit.

Abstract: The present application relates to a process for the manufacture of copolymers of ethylene and of at least one vinyl ester, comprising the following steps: a) fermentation of renewable starting materials so as to produce at least one alcohol comprising ethanol; b) dehydration of the alcohol obtained so as to produce at least one alkene comprising ethylene and, optionally, purification of the alkene so as to obtain ethylene, c) copolymerization of the ethylene with at least one vinyl ester, d) isolation of the copolymer obtained. The application also relates to the copolymers of ethylene and of at least one vinyl ester in which the ethylene is at least partly obtained from renewable starting materials, and to uses thereof.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which contain at least one polymeric region in contact with a metallic region. The polymeric region contains at least one block copolymer that contains at least one low Tg block and at least one high Tg block. The polymeric region contains at least one polymer that contains at least one adhesion promoting group selected from one or more of halo-silane, alkoxy-silane, epoxy, anhydride, phenoxy, hydroxyl, amino, sulfonate and carboxyl groups, which at least one polymer may correspond to the block copolymer, a supplemental polymer, or both.

Abstract: Hybrid copolymers for use as anti-sealant and dispersant. The polymers are useful in compositions used in aqueous systems. The polymers include at least one synthetic monomeric constituent that is chain terminated by a naturally occurring hydroxyl containing moiety. A process for preparing these hybrid copolymers is also provided.

Abstract: Using a photosensitive resin structure having an ablation layer for a photosensitive resin for a relief printing that is capable of being processed by infrared radiation and containing an anionic polymer, a relief printing plate is produced by drawing a pattern by irradiating the ablation layer with infrared radiation; exposing the pattern by irradiating the photosensitive resin layer with ultraviolet radiation; and removing the ablation layer and unexposed photosensitive resin layer with a developer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a styrene-butadiene latex, a preparation method thereof and a coating liquid containing the same, more precisely a styrene-butadiene latex binder for ink-jet paper containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer by 0.1-1.5 weight parts with lowering surface negative charge density, a preparation method thereof and a coating liquid containing the same. The present invention provides a coating liquid for ink-jet paper having excellent price competitiveness and coating work-ability and at the same time reducing energy cost for drying process and thereby provides an ink-jet paper with excellent printing quality.

Abstract: Aqueous polymer dispersions based on copolymers of vinyl aromatics and conjugated aliphatic dienes having a mean particle size of from 80 to 150 nm, obtained by free radical emulsion copolymerization of (a) from 19.9 to 80 parts by weight of at least one vinyl aromatic compound, (b) from 19.9 to 80 parts by weight of at least one conjugated aliphatic diene, (c) from 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated acid, and (d) from 0 to 20 parts by weight of at least one other monoethylenically Unsaturated monomer, the sum of the parts by weight of the monomers (a), (b), (c) and (d) always being 100, in an aqueous medium in the presence of at least one degraded starch having an intrinsic viscosity ?i of less than 0.07 dl/g with the use of at least 0.

Abstract: A methacrylic resin comprising 80 to 98.5 wt % of methyl methacrylate monomer unit and 1.5 to 20 wt % of at least one different vinyl monomer unit copolymerizable with methyl methacrylate, characterized in that the methacrylic resin has a weight average molecular weight measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of 60,000 to 230,000 and comprises 7 to 30% of a component having a weight average molecular weight of ? or less of a peak weight average molecular weight (Mp) obtained from a GPC elution curve based on the methacrylic resin component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of amphiphilic gradient copolymers by Controlled Radical Polymerization in the presence of a RAFT (Reversible Addition Fragmentation Transfer) agent. The copolymers of the invention exhibit low polydispersity indices and low viscosities in solution and are readily soluble in an alkaline medium.

Abstract: A polymer composition comprising star macromolecules is provided. Each star macromolecule has a core and five or more arms, wherein the number of arms within a star macromolecule varies across the composition of star molecules. The arms on a star are covalently attached to the core of the star; each arm comprises one or more (co)polymer segments; and at least one arm and/or at least one segment exhibits a different solubility from at least one other arm or one other segment, respectively, in a reference liquid of interest.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of an aqueous polymer dispersion using RAFT compounds.

Abstract: Articles made of and/or including ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UMWPE) having increased strength and/or wear resistance, such as high yield strength, high tensile strength, high load strength, and/or high impact strength. Some embodiments of articles made of and/or including UHMWPE having increased strength and/or wear resistance, such as that listed above, include UHMWPE having co-monomers.

Abstract: The present invention provides personal care compositions comprising a cosmetically acceptable, cationically modified ethylene acrylic acid polymer that has a net cationic charge at pH 6, and a least one cosmetically acceptable surfactant, emollient, or cosmetic active.

Abstract: An organic layer composition and a liquid crystal display including the same are provided. An organic layer composition according to an exemplary embodiment includes a binder formed by copolymerizing compounds included in a first group and a second group, wherein the first group includes an acryl-based compound and the second group includes a compound without a —COO— group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a styrene-butadiene latex, a preparation method thereof and a coating liquid containing the same, more precisely a styrene-butadiene latex binder for ink-jet paper containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer by 0.1-1.5 weight parts with lowering surface negative charge density, a preparation method thereof and a coating liquid containing the same. The present invention provides a coating liquid for ink-jet paper having excellent price competitiveness and coating work-ability and at the same time reducing energy cost for drying process and thereby provides an ink-jet paper with excellent printing quality.

Abstract: Hybrid copolymers for use as anti-sealant and dispersant. The polymers are useful in compositions used in aqueous systems. The polymers include at least one synthetic monomeric constituent that is chain terminated by a naturally occurring hydroxyl containing moiety. A process for preparing these hybrid copolymers is also provided.

Abstract: [Problems] Thermoplastic resins have various problems such as enhancement in strength and improvement in toughness and heat resistance and copolymerization with monomers or oligomers and grafting have been carried out to solve the problems. Although graft polymerization with macromonomers has been carried out as a method for solving the problems, it is still expected to develop a modification technique for attaining better performance and resins produced by the technique. [Means for Solving Problems] A thermoplastic resin obtained by addition polymerization of an addition-polymerizable monomer, characterized by being modified by copolymerization with a vinyl polymer (I) which bears at least one group having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond at each of at least two molecular ends and which has a weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn) ratio of less than 1.8.

Abstract: The present invention describes the synthesis of solvent soluble copolymers containing multiple unsaturations. These copolymers contain reactive vinyl groups, which can be further reacted in a second stage polymerization. The process involves copolymerization of a vinyl monomer with an inclusion complex of a monomer having multiple unsaturations and a cyclic macromolecular compound to yield soluble polymers. These polymers may be cast into films, membranes or may be converted in micro or nanoparticles and then crosslinked in a second step polymerization.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to copolymers, which are polymerization products of: (i) a monomer having alpha-olefinic functionality; (ii) a monomer different from (i) having active hydrogen functionality; and (iii) a monomer different from (ii) having acrylic functionality. The molar ratio of the monomer (i) having alpha-olefinic functionality to the monomer (iii) having acrylic functionality is less than 1:1, and the conversion of the monomer (i) having alpha-olefinic functionality during polymerization is greater than 90%. When monomers having methacrylic functionality are used to prepare the copolymer, the molar ratio of the monomer (iii) having acrylic functionality to the monomers having methacrylic functionality is greater than 2:1. Also disclosed are curable film-forming compositions comprising the copolymers.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which modified and generic dental resins are combined as mixtures with reactive polymeric nanoparticles (RPNPs). Nanoparticles as additives clearly demonstrate that the RPNPs significantly influence the mechanical and shrinkage properties of the matrix and composites.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for production of methacrylic acid, to a process for production of methyl methacrylate comprising the process steps a) providing a feed composition comprising at least one C4 feed compound selected from isobutylene and tertiary butanol; b) providing methanol; c) subjecting the at least one C4 feed compound and the methanol to a first catalytic reaction zone to obtain a reaction phase comprising methyl tertiary butyl ether; d) separating at least a first part of methanol from the reaction phase to obtain a first methanol phase and a reaction phase depleted in methanol; e) subjecting at least one of the reaction phase and the reaction phase depleted in methanol to a second catalytic reaction zone to obtain a splitting phase comprising isobutylene and methanol; f) optionally separating at least a first part of isobutylene from the second reaction phase to obtain a first isobutylene phase and a splitting phase depleted in isobutylene; g) optionally subjecting the first isobutyle

Abstract: An ionomer composition comprises an ionomer that is the neutralized product of a precursor acid copolymer. The precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymerized units of an ?-olefin having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and about 20 to about 30 wt %, based on the total weight of the precursor acid copolymer, of copolymerized units of an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms; a melt flow rate of about 10 to about 4000 g/10 min; and, when neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90% and when comprising counterions that consist essentially of sodium cations, the precursor acid copolymer produces a sodium ionomer that has a melt flow rate of about 0.7 to about 25 g/10 min and a freeze enthalpy that is not detectable or that is less than about 3.0 j/g. Further provided are articles comprising the ionomer composition.