PARALOID™
Impact Modifiers & Processing Aids
Advancing science for the most demanding applications through bold collaborations
Dow’s PARALOID™ Impact Modifiers sure can take a beating. That’s why they are a key ingredient in the new ERC Soft and Supersoft golf balls from Callaway Golf, which promote “exceptional spin, control, feel and distance.” PARALOID™ Impact Modifiers are trusted by manufacturers around the world to consistently enhance the durability and impact resistance of their products --be it vinyl windows, outdoor decking, durable goods, windmill blades or car bumpers, Dow’s extensive range of PARALOID™ Additives can make the difference between a snowman* and a hole-in-one. *In golf, a “snowman” is really bad.
From building products to vehicles to golf balls, technology trends demand increasingly advanced capabilities in plastics. PARALOID™ Impact Modifiers and Processing Aids from Dow enable the formulation of specialty high-performance compounds and composites.
Think of the moment of impact when a golf club hits the ball, which then soars through the air at more than 90mph. Or vinyl windows facing direct sunlight in the summer heat. Or injection-molded automotive parts subjected to extreme temperatures. PARALOID™ Additives strengthen and toughen a broad range of thermoset and thermoplastic polymer systems with properties that are critical to withstand the most challenging conditions.
This is exemplified in Callaway Golf Company’s specially-designed hybrid covers for the new ERC Soft and Supersoft golf balls. A proprietary blend combines a PARALOID™ Impact Modifier with SURLYN™ Ionomers for a high-performance, multi-material construction.
The polymer composition of the golf ball core and the shell are precisely designed to enable excellent compatibility with other resins when mixed by various melt processing techniques. This dynamic combination promotes key player benefits, including long distance, exceptional spin, outstanding feel, and short game control.
Three things to know about the science behind golf balls:
Golf balls are purposefully designed with key materials at a molecular level
The Callaway ERC Soft and Supersoft golf balls feature a new hybrid cover designed with a pioneering blend of Dow PARALOID™ Impact Modifiers, high flex modulus (HFM) ionomers, and highly neutralized (HNP) ionomers. In other words, the multi-material construction of the cover is state-of-the-art and provides noticeable player benefits, such as longer distance, exceptional spin, more control, and a softer feel. In fact, the new 2021 ERC Soft ball has been tested to outperform the 2019 model and other competitor balls by going a longer distance off the driver and 7 iron with a higher trajectory. The dynamic design also helps the ball last longer by responding to impact better, so your game won’t get cut short.
The main ingredients of golf balls strengthen a wide array of other applications beyond sport
Dow PARALOID™ Impact Modifiers are utilized by manufacturers and engineers across different industries to prolong durability and impact resistance of polymer materials. From vinyl windows to car parts to outdoor decking, PARALOID™ additives can withstand even the toughest conditions—including the force of your driver hitting the ball off a tee (and the force of your ball hitting a tree after the occasional shank).
Golf balls are developed to provide a unique experience for different types of players
According to Callaway, the ERC Soft ball is targeted for mid-low handicap players who want to maximize distance without compromising spin and control around the green. This is made possible by a high-energy core and high-speed mantle, as well as Callaway’s Triple Track Technology to improve alignment and accuracy. For players with a mid-high handicap looking for the softest feel possible and a low spin profile, the Supersoft ball is the best option. It utilizes HEX Aerodynamics® for a straight flight that will perform consistently every time.
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