Golf ball compositions having in-situ or reactive impact modified silicone-urea or silicone urethane

• US 20070117656A1
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Rajagopalan, Murali, Harris, Kevin M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,951,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/371
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0022 Coatings, e.g. paint films; Markings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0037 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0049 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0061 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0069 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• 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 37/008 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0084 Initial velocity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0087 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0093 Moisture vapour transmission rate [MVTR]
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/10 : Prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/324 : containing only one aromatic ring
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/44 : Polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4854 : Polyethers containing oxyalkylene groups having four carbon atoms in the alkylene group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/5024 : containing primary and/or secondary amino groups
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/5039 : containing amide groups
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/61 : Polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/6674 : with compounds of group C08G18/3203
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/758 : containing two or more cycloaliphatic rings

Abstract

Modified silicone urea and modified silicone urethane polymers for use in golf equipment components to provide improved impact resistance upon contact with a golf club including reactive polymer alloys formed in situ from silicone-ureas and/or silicone-urethanes and impact resistant polymers and oligomers.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least a portion of the golf ball is formed from a composition comprising:

a first component comprising silicone and urea linkages, urethane linkages, or a combination of urea and urethane linkages; and

an impact resistant polymer.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the impact resistant polymers comprise ethylene-n-butyl acrylate-glycidyl acrylate, maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-butene copolymer, maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-hexene copolymer, maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-octene copolymer, ethylene-n-butyl acrylate-carbon monoxide, acid copolymers, chemically-modified ethylene-propylene rubber, EPDM rubber, ABS, MBS, SEBS-g-MA, or any combination thereof.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the composition consists of urea and silicone linkages.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first component is the reaction product of an isocyanate, an amine adduct, and a curing agent.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first component is the reaction product of an isocyanate, an hydroxy adduct, and a curing agent.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first component is the reaction product of an isocyanate, an amine-terminated component, and a silicone-containing component.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first component is the reaction product of an isocyanate, an amine-terminated component, and a silicone-containing component.

8. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the cover is formed from a composition comprising:

a first component comprising a reaction product of an isocyanate;

an amine-terminated component, a hydroxyl-terminated component, or combination thereof;

a second component comprising a silicone; and

a third component comprising an impact resistant polymer.

9. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein the impact resistant polymer comprises ethylene-n-butyl acrylate-glycidyl acrylate, maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-butene copolymer, maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-hexene copolymer, maleic anhydride grafted ethylene-octene copolymer, ethylene-n-butyl acrylate-carbon monoxide, acid copolymers, chemically-modified ethylene-propylene rubber, EPDM rubber, ABS, MBS, SEBS-g-MA, or any combination thereof.

10. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein the first component is saturated.

11. The golf ball of claim 8, further comprising an amine-terminated curing agent, a hydroxyl-terminated curing agent, or a combination thereof.

12. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein the composition consists of the following linkages:

13. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein the composition comprises the following linkages: