Process for preparation of ethylene and propylene ionomer

A process for the manufacture of an ethylene and propylene ionomer comprising the steps of:

• a1) copolymerizing ethylene, propylene and at least one masked functionalized olefin monomer in the presence of a catalyst system,
• wherein the at least one masked functionalized olefin monomer is a reaction product of a functionalized olefin monomer represented by the structure according to Formula (I) and a masking agent:
• wherein R2, R3, and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and hydrocarbyl with 1 to 16 carbon atoms,
• wherein R5—[X—(R6)n]m is a polar functional group containing one or multiple heteroatom containing functionalities X—(R6)n wherein
• X is selected from —O—, —S— or —CO2— and R6 is H, and n is 1, or
• X is N and R6 is each independently selected from the group consisting of H and a hydrocarbyl group with 1 to 16 carbon atoms, and n is 2,
• wherein R5 is either —C(R7a)(R7b)— or a plurality of —C(R7a)(R7b)— groups, wherein R7a, and R7b are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and hydrocarbyl with 1 to 16 carbon atoms and R5 comprises 1 to 10 carbon atoms,
• wherein R3 and R5 may together form a ring structure that is functionalized with one or multiple X—(R6)n,
• where X is attached to either a main chain or side chain of R5, where m is an entire number between 1 and 10, and either
• b1) treating a product of step a1) with a protic solution containing a metal salt, an ammonium salt or an amine to perform an exchange reaction, or
• a2) contacting a product of step a1) with a Brønsted acid solution to abstract a residue derived from the masking agent from the product of step a1) to obtain a functionalized ethylene and propylene copolymer, and either
• b2) treating a product of step a2) with a monovalent metal salt, a monocationic ammonium salt or a monofunctional amine, or
• b3) treating a product of step a2) with a multi-valent metal salt, a polycationic ammonium salt or a polyfunctional amine.