Golf ball incorporating at least one layer of plasticized neutralized acid polymer composition containing low molecular weight acid wax(es) as sole acid polymer component and low molecular weight non-acid wax(es) in the non-acid polymer component

• US 10,427,006 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2018
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Blink, Robert, Bulpett, David A., Sullivan, Michael J., Comeau, Brian, Binette, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US16/139,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20190022470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 473371
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0036 Melt flow rate [MFR]
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0048 Melt flow rate [MFR]
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/006 Physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00621 Centre hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00622 Surface hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0074 Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
• 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 37/0087 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00921 whereby hardness of the cover is higher than hardness of the intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 210/02 Ethene
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 220/1804 C4-(meth)acrylate, e.g. butyl (meth)acrylate, isobutyl (meth)acrylate or tert-butyl (meth)acrylate
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2500/02 Low molecular weight, e.g. <100,000 Da.
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2500/12 : Melt flow index or melt flow ratio
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 2500/17 : Viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/098 : Metal salts of carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/101 : of monocarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/521 : Esters of phosphoric acids, e.g. of H3PO4
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/02 : Homopolymers or copolymers of acids; Metal or ammonium salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/08 : Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylic acid esters
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/10 : Homopolymers or copolymers of methacrylic acid esters

Abstract

Golf ball comprising layer(s) comprised of plasticized neutralized acid polymer composition consisting of mixture of: (a) low molecular weight acid-containing wax(es); (b) non-acid-polymer(s) including at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax such as high density oxidized polyethylene homopolymers; ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene homopolymers; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; high density oxidized homopolymers; oxidized copolymers; polyethylene micronized waxes; polytetrafluoroethylene micronized waxes; emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; non-emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; and/or chemically modified low molecular weight non-acid waxes; (c) organic acid(s) or salt thereof; and (d) plasticizer(s). Molecular weight of each low molecular weight acid-containing wax is about 500 to 7000, or up to 30,000. Interactions between components (a), (b), (c) and (d) advantageously produce layer of ionomeric material having heat stability, processability, and well-retained durability, adhesion, CoR, compression and softer feel without need for blending high and low molecular weight acid-containing polymer(s).

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising at least one layer consisting of a plasticized neutralized acid polymer composition consisting of a mixture of:

(a) at least one low molecular weight acid-containing wax;

(b) at least one non-acid-polymer, of which at least one is a low molecular weight non-acid wax;

(c) at least one organic acid or salt thereof; and

(d) at least one plasticizer;

wherein each low molecular weight acid-containing wax has a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 30,000;

wherein the mixture contains at least 70 percent of neutralized acid groups; and

wherein the mixture has a melt flow index of at least 0.5 g/10 min.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the low molecular weight non-acid wax is selected from the group consisting of:

high density oxidized polyethylene homopolymers;

ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers;

polypropylene maleic anhydride copolymers;

polypropylene homopolymers;

ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers;

high density oxidized homopolymers;

oxidized copolymers;

polyethylene micronized waxes;

polytetrafluoroethylene micronized waxes;

emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes;

non-emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes;

chemically modified low molecular weight non-acid waxes, and combinations thereof.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax is included in a blend of non-acid-polymers in an amount of at least 50 wt. % based on the total weight of the blend.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax is included in a blend of non-acid-polymers in an amount of less than 50 wt. % based on the total weight of the blend.

5. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax is included in the blend in an amount of from about 10 wt. % to 50 wt. % based on the total weight of the blend.

6. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax is included in the mixture in an amount of no greater than 35 wt. % based on the total weight of the mixture.

7. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax is included in the mixture in an amount of from about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % based on the total weight of the mixture.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein component (a) is included in an amount of 5 to 95 parts of each 100 parts of components (a) and (b) combined.

9. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein component (b) is included in an amount of from about 5 to 95 parts of each 100 parts of components (a) and (b) combined.

10. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein component (c) is included in an amount of from 5 to 100 parts per 100 parts of components (a) and (b) combined.

11. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein component (d) may be included in an amount of from about 1.0 parts to about 300 parts per 100 parts of components (a) and (b) combined.

12. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein component (a) is included in the mixture in an amount of about 70-80 wt % of each 100 wt % of components (a) and (b) combined, component (b) is included in the mixture in an amount of about 20-30 wt % of each 100 wt % of components (a) an (b) combined, component (c) is included in the mixture in an amount of about 35-45 wt % per 100 wt % of components (a) and (b) combined;

and component (d) is included in the mixture in an amount of about 0.5-80 wt % of each 100 wt % of components (a) and (b) and (d) combined.

13. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the mixture contains at least 80 percent of neutralized acid groups.

14. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the mixture contains at least 90 percent of neutralized acid groups.

15. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the mixture contains 100 percent of neutralized acid groups.

16. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the mixture contains an amount of a cation source greater than an amount sufficient to neutralize about 100% of all acid groups present.

17. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the at least one organic acid or salt thereof is a fatty acid or fatty acid salt, or blends thereof.

18. The golf ball of claim 17, wherein the at least one organic acid or salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of Magnesium Oleate, Magnesium Stearate, or combinations thereof.

19. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the low molecular weight acid-containing wax is selected from the group consisting of ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene-meth acrylic acid copolymers, oxidized polyethylene, or combinations thereof.

20. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein each low molecular weight acid-containing wax has a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 7,000.

21. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein the non-acid polymer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene acrylate copolymers;

polyether esters;

polyether amines;

or combinations thereof.

22. The golf ball of claim 21, wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters, phosphate esters, or mixtures thereof.

23. The golf ball of claim 22, wherein the melt flow index of the mixture is greater than 1.0 g/10 min.

24. The golf ball of claim 22, wherein the melt flow index of the mixture is from about 1.0 g/10 min to about 4 g/10 min.

25. The golf ball of claim 23, wherein the golf ball has a CoR of from about 0.740 to about 0.840.

26. The golf ball of claim 24, wherein the golf ball has a compression of from about 40 to about 135.

27. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein each low molecular weight acid-containing wax has a Brookfield viscosity of about 1100 cps or less at 140°

C. and a density of less than 0.96 g/cc.

28. The golf ball of claim 16, comprising a center and an outer core layer disposed about the center, wherein at least one of the center and the outer core layer is the at least one layer.

29. The golf ball of claim 22, wherein the center has a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.30 inches and a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater, and the outer core layer has a surface hardness of 75 Shore C or greater, and an inner cover layer has a material hardness less than the surface hardness of the outer core layer;

and an outer cover layer is disposed about the inner cover layer.

30. The golf ball of claim 22, wherein the center has a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.30 inches and a center hardness of 75 Shore C or greater, and the outer core layer has a surface hardness of 50 Shore C or greater, and an inner cover layer has a material hardness less than the surface hardness of the outer core layer;

and an outer cover layer is disposed about the inner cover layer.

31. The golf ball of claim 16, comprising a subassembly, an inner cover layer disposed about the subassembly, and an outer cover layer surrounding the inner cover layer, wherein at least one of the inner cover layer and outer cover layer is the at least one layer.

32. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the mixture has a melt flow index of at least 1.0 g/10 min.