Polyurea coatings for golf equipment

• US 20060009607A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Lutz, Mitchell E., Hogge, Matthew F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,572,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 528/68
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00221 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00222 Physical properties, e.g. hardness
• 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 57/00 Golfing accessories
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 175/02 Polyureas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31551 Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]

Abstract

A polyurea-based curable coating for use with sports equipment, such as golf balls, golf shoes, golf clubs, footballs, billiard balls, baseballs, and the like, of which the coating may be cured over time, with heat, or a combination thereof, providing enhanced adhesion to equipment surfaces, improved abrasion resistance, and increased water resistance.

Claims

1. A coating composition for golf equipment comprising a reaction product of an amine-terminated compound and an isocyanate, wherein the reaction product consists of linkages having the general formula:

2. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein at least one of the amine-terminated compound or isocyanate are aliphatic.

3. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein the amine-terminated compound comprises primary amines, secondary amines, or a combination thereof.

4. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein the amine-terminated compound is selected from the group consisting of amine-terminated hydrocarbons, amine-terminated polyethers, amine-terminated polyesters, amine-terminated polycarbonates, amine-terminated polycaprolactones, amine-terminated polyamides, and mixtures thereof.

5. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein the reaction product has a cure time of about 5 minutes or greater.

6. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein the reaction product has a cure time of about 15 minutes to about 30 minutes.

7. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein the reaction product has a cure time of about 30 minutes to about 60 minutes.

8. The coating composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one solvent.

9. The coating composition of claim 8, wherein the at least one solvent comprises methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl amyl ketone, methyl isoamyl ketone, butyl acetate and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, xylene, methoxy propyl acetate, N-methylpyrrolidone, solvesso solvent, petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorobenzene, or mixtures thereof.

10. The coating composition of claim 8, wherein the at least one solvent is present in the composition in an amount of about 20 percent to about 40 percent by weight of the coating composition.

11. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein the coating composition has a dry film thickness of about 0.1 mils to about 1 mil.

12. The coating composition of claim 1, wherein the golf equipment is a golf ball.

13. A golf ball comprising a core, a cover, and a coating layer formed a composition comprising at least one isocyanate and at least one amine-terminated compound, wherein the composition is substantially free of solvent.

14. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the at least one isocyanate and the at least one amine-terminated compound contain no carbon-carbon double bonds.

15. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the amine-terminated compound is selected from the group consisting of amine-terminated hydrocarbons, amine-terminated polyethers, amine-terminated polyesters, amine-terminated polycarbonates, amine-terminated polycaprolactones, amine-terminated polyamides, and mixtures thereof.

16. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the composition comprises linkages having the general formula:

17. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the amine-terminated compound comprises two end segments selected from the group consisting of a primary amine, a secondary amine, or mixtures thereof.

18. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the composition further comprises at least one an optical brightener, silane coupling agent, catalyst, pigment, filler, wetting agent, solvent, or a combination thereof.

19. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the coating layer comprises at least two layers.

20. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein the coating layer has a dry film thickness of about 0.5 mils to about 3 mils.

21. A golf ball comprising a core, a cover, and a coating layer disposed about the cover, wherein the coating layer is formed of coating composition comprising:

an isocyanate; and

an amine-terminated compound,

wherein the coating composition comprises linkages having the general formula;

wherein x is about 1 or greater, and wherein R and R₁ are straight chain or branched hydrocarbon chains comprising about 1 to about 20 carbons, and

wherein the coating has a 60°

gloss of about 85 or greater.

22. The golf ball of claim 21, wherein the coating has a 60°

gloss of about 90 or greater.

23. The golf ball of claim 21, wherein the coating composition consists of linkages having the general formula:

24. The golf ball of claim 21, wherein the coating composition comprises linkages selected from the group consisting of:

25. The golf ball of claim 21, wherein the cure time is about 5 minutes to about 60 minutes.

26. The golf ball of claim 21, wherein the coating layer has a dry film thickness of about 0.1 mils to about 1 mil.

27. The golf ball of claim 21, wherein the coating composition further comprises a solvent.

28. The golf ball of claim 27, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl amyl ketone, methyl isoamyl ketone, butyl acetate and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, xylene, methoxy propyl acetate, N-methyl pyrrolidone, solvesso solvent, petroleum hydrocarbons, iso-butanol, butyl glycol, chlorobenzene, or mixtures thereof.

29. The coating composition of claim 27, wherein the solvent is present in the composition in an amount of about 10 percent to about 35 percent by weight of the coating composition.

30. A coating composition for game balls comprising a reaction product of an amine-terminated compound and an isocyanate, wherein the reaction product consists of linkages having the general formula:

31. The coating composition of claim 30, wherein the game balls comprise golf balls, footballs, billiard balls, baseballs, or softballs.

32. The coating composition of claim 30, wherein the amine-terminated compound is selected from the group consisting of amine-terminated hydrocarbons, amine-terminated polyethers, amine-terminated polyesters, amine-terminated polycarbonates, amine-terminated polycaprolactones, amine-terminated polyamides, and mixtures thereof.

33. The coating composition of claim 30, wherein the reaction product has a cure time of about 15 minutes to about 30 minutes.