Ionomer
An ethylene-based copolymer partially neutralized with metal ions (Na, Zn) forming ionic crosslinks, giving exceptional toughness, clarity, abrasion resistance and hot-tack sealing; famous for golf ball covers and tough packaging film.
Reference datasheet — Ionomer is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Ionomer grades and fills
Ionomer is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 5 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soft / flexible low-modulus ionomer | Very low stiffness, rubber-like ionomer for soft-touch overmolds, ski boots and impact-absorbing layers. | 6 | 20 | 550 | 33 Shore D |
Injection-molding grade | High-flow pellets for thin-wall caps, closures and cosmetic parts. | 13 | 26 | 330 | 55 Shore D |
Sodium-neutralized ionomer | Pick for maximum clarity, hot-tack, abrasion resistance and stiffness; more moisture-sensitive, dry before molding. | 17 | 33 | 350 | 62 Shore D |
Lithium-neutralized ionomer | Specialty high-stiffness, high-resilience grade used in golf-ball and high-performance sports applications. | 19 | 36 | 300 | 65 Shore D |
Hard / high-modulus golf-cover grade | Highly neutralized, stiff and cut-resistant — the classic golf-ball cover and ski-base ionomer. | 20 | 38 | 260 | 66 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Ionomer is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FILM | Film / extrusion-coating grade | Supply form |
ZN | Zinc-neutralized ionomer | Coating |
FDA | Food-contact / medical grade | Certification |
OPT | Optical / high-clarity grade | Grade option |
SLIP | Slip / antiblock film grade | Grade option |
UV | UV-stabilized grade | Grade option |
NATDefault | Unfilled / Natural | Standard supply |
What is Ionomer?
An ethylene-based copolymer partially neutralized with metal ions (Na, Zn) forming ionic crosslinks, giving exceptional toughness, clarity, abrasion resistance and hot-tack sealing; famous for golf ball covers and tough packaging film. Ionomer has a density of 0.95 g/cm³ (0.0343 lb/in³), lighter than 75% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -25°C (-13 °F). Ionomer has a yield strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) and a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) — weaker than 84% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 380% and the elastic modulus is 0.28 GPa (0.0406 Msi).
What is Ionomer used for?
- Golf ball covers
- Skin/blister packaging film
- Heat-seal layers for food packaging
- Ski boot shells and sporting goods
- Foam laminates
- Metal adhesion coatings
Advantages
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 380%, better than 85% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 88/100, better than 85% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 83% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 77% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Low strength — 15 MPa (2.18 ksi), worse than 84% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 83% of polymer grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 0.6%, worse than 75% of polymer grades
Ionomer properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
Ionomer has a density of 0.95 g/cm³ (0.0343 lb/in³), lighter than 75% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -25°C (-13 °F).
Mechanical12
Ionomer has a yield strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) and a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) — weaker than 84% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 380% and the elastic modulus is 0.28 GPa (0.0406 Msi).
Thermal11
Ionomer is rated for continuous service to 65°C (149 °F). It conducts heat at 0.24 W/m·K (0.139 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 67% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 140 µm/m·K (77.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical6
Ionomer is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 32 kV/mm (812.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (78/100), worse than 61% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Ionomer takes about 88 MJ of energy and emits 3 kg of CO₂ — less than 76% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
Ionomer's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability excellent (88/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. Ionomer is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Ionomer
Is Ionomer easy to machine?
Machinable but gummy and elastic — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, low feed and air/mist cooling; expect poor dimensional accuracy on thin sections.
Can Ionomer be welded?
Excellent heat-sealing, hot-tack, impulse, ultrasonic and hot-plate welding; bonds well to aluminum foil, nylon and PET in coextrusion/extrusion-coating.
Can Ionomer be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 3–4 h at 50–60 °C, melt 190–250 °C (never above ~260 °C to avoid ionic degradation/gel), cold mold 10–30 °C for gloss; blown/cast film and thermoforming run easily.
Ionomer chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| methacrylic acid (or acrylic acid)acid comonomer providing ionic sites | 8 – 20 | 12 |
| Zn or Na (or Li) neutralizing cation20–70 % of acid groups neutralized; ion type defines the grade family | 0.3 – 3 | 1.2 |
| additives (slip, antiblock, UV, antioxidgrade dependent | 0 – 1.5 | 0.3 |
| ethylenebackbone comonomer | ≥ 78 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Ionomer?
Molds to a very high natural gloss; paints and inks need corona/flame treatment; not suitable for plating, and printing over the sealant layer should be reverse-printed on the carrier film.
How much does Ionomer cost?
Ionomer is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Ionomer — frequently asked
What is Ionomer used for?
Ionomer is typically used for golf ball covers, skin/blister packaging film, heat-seal layers for food packaging, ski boot shells and sporting goods, foam laminates and metal adhesion coatings. In short: toughest clear ethylene copolymer; best hot-tack seal layer; high-gloss abrasion resistance.
What is the yield strength of Ionomer?
Ionomer has a typical yield strength of 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) and a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) — weaker than 84% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Ionomer easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades). Machinable but gummy and elastic — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, low feed and air/mist cooling; expect poor dimensional accuracy on thin sections.
Can Ionomer be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). Excellent heat-sealing, hot-tack, impulse, ultrasonic and hot-plate welding; bonds well to aluminum foil, nylon and PET in coextrusion/extrusion-coating.
What surface finishes work on Ionomer?
Molds to a very high natural gloss; paints and inks need corona/flame treatment; not suitable for plating, and printing over the sealant layer should be reverse-printed on the carrier film.
Can Ionomer be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 3–4 h at 50–60 °C, melt 190–250 °C (never above ~260 °C to avoid ionic degradation/gel), cold mold 10–30 °C for gloss; blown/cast film and thermoforming run easily.
What is the maximum service temperature of Ionomer?
Ionomer is rated for continuous use to about 65°C (149 °F), and briefly to 90°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Ionomer cost?
Ionomer is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Surlyn ionomer resin product and processing datasheets — DuPont / Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics (2022)
- CAMPUS plastics property database — ethylene ionomers — CAMPUS/CWFG (2023)
- Engineering Plastics, ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 — ASM International (1988)
- ASTM D638 / D790 / D256 / D1238 test methods for plastics — ASTM International (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.