Polyamide compositions containing plasticizers for use in making golf balls

• US 10,188,908 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Bulpett, David A., Blink, Robert, Binette, Mark L., Comeau, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Buttner, David J
• Application Number:
  US15/215,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20160325147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0044 Hardness gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0046 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0049 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0061 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00621 Centre hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00622 Surface hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0063 Hardness gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0069 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0078 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0092 Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0095 : Scuff resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 : Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 69/40 : Polyamides containing oxygen in the form of ether groups C08G69/12, C08G69/32 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/0016 : Plasticisers
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/098 : Metal salts of carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/20 : Carboxylic acid amides
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/435 : Sulfonamides
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/10 : Transparent films; Clear coatings; Transparent materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/02 : containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/03 : containing three or more polymers in a blend
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 51/06 : grafted on to homopolymers or copolymers of aliphatic hydrocarbons containing only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 77/02 : Polyamides derived from omega-amino carboxylic acids or from lactams thereof C08L77/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 77/06 : Polyamides derived from polyamines and polycarboxylic acids C08L77/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 : Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

Abstract

Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of a polyamide composition containing a polyamide polymer and plasticizer are provided. The plasticizers help reduce the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the composition and various plasticizers may be used. For example, the composition may include ethyl oleate or propylene carbonate as a plasticizer. Transparent polyamides, for example, polyether-amide block copolymers, preferably are used in the composition. The golf ball includes a core having at least one layer and a cover having at least one layer. The polyamide composition may be used to form any core, cover, or other layer in the golf ball. In one version, the polyamide composition is used to form the inner cover layer.

Claims

1. A golf ball, comprising:

a) a core comprising an inner core and outer core layer, the inner core having an outer surface and geometric center and the outer core layer having an outer surface and inner surface;

the inner core comprising a polyamide composition and the outer core layer comprising a rubber composition the polyamide composition comprising;

i) about 40 to about 90% by weight polyamide; and

ii) about 10 to about 60% by weight of a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of ethyl oleate and propylene carbonate and blends thereof, the polyamide comprising a blend of transparent and non-transparent polyamides, wherein at least one of the transparent polyamides is a polyether-amide block copolymer, and wherein the center of the inner core and surface of the outer core layer each has a hardness, and the surface hardness of the outer core layer is greater than the center hardness of the inner core; and

b) a cover having at least one layer disposed about the core.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner core is a molded sphere having a Coefficient of Restitution of at least about 0.600;

a DCM Compression of no greater than about 80; and

Shore D surface hardness of no greater than about 60.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the molded sphere has a Coefficient of Restitution of at least about 0.640;

a DCM Compression in the range of about 10 to about 60; and

Shore 0 surface hardness in the range of about 25 to about 75.

4. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the molded sphere has a Coefficient of Restitution of at least about 0.750;

a DCM Compression of no greater than about 100; and

Shore D surface hardness of no greater than about 80.