Golf balls comprising blends of polyamides and ionomers
First Claim
1. A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, said cover comprising at least one layer, wherein an outermost layer of said cover is formed of a composition of a substantially compatibilizer-free blend, said blend consisting of polymeric components comprising from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one ionomer and about 90 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one polyamide polymer and, optionally, further consisting of at least one additive selected from dyes, whitening agents, UV absorbers, antioxidants, stabilizers, softening agents, plasticizers, impact modifiers, toughening agents, reinforcing materials, nucleating agents and combinations of these additives, wherein the polyamide polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyamide homopolymers, polyamide copolymers and mixtures thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a golf ball, comprising a cover, a core and optional intermediate layers, wherein the various ball components are formed from compositions comprising compatible blends of a relatively hard polyamide, in the form of a homopolymer, copolymer or block copolymer, with a relatively soft ionomer resin. The compositions include a substantially compatibilizer-free blend of about 10% to 80% of an ionomer resin and about 90% to 20% of at least one polyamide polymer, with the proviso that the polyamide polymer is not a block polyamide copolymer comprising main-chain polyether blocks. The present invention also relates to a golf ball comprising a cover layer, a core layer and at least one intermediate layer interposed there-between, wherein at least one of said layers consists essentially of up to about 99 wt. % of an ionomer and about 100 wt. % to about 1 wt. % of at least one polyamide polymer, with the proviso that the polyamide polymer is not a block polyamide copolymer comprising main-chain polyether blocks and further that the cover consists essentially of at least one material selected from the group consisting of nonionomer polymer materials and non-olefin ionomers.
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Citations
38 Claims
- 1. A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, said cover comprising at least one layer, wherein an outermost layer of said cover is formed of a composition of a substantially compatibilizer-free blend, said blend consisting of polymeric components comprising from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one ionomer and about 90 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one polyamide polymer and, optionally, further consisting of at least one additive selected from dyes, whitening agents, UV absorbers, antioxidants, stabilizers, softening agents, plasticizers, impact modifiers, toughening agents, reinforcing materials, nucleating agents and combinations of these additives, wherein the polyamide polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyamide homopolymers, polyamide copolymers and mixtures thereof.
- 7. A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, said cover comprising at least one layer, wherein an outermost layer of said cover is formed of a composition of a substantially compatibilizer-free blend, said blend consisting of polymeric components comprising from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one ionomer and about 90 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one polyamide polymer and, optionally, further consisting of at least one additive selected from dyes, whitening agents, UV absorbers, antioxidants, stabilizers, softening agents, plasticizers, impact modifiers, toughening agents, reinforcing materials, nucleating agents and combinations of these additives, with the proviso that the polyamide polymer is not a block polyamide copolymer comprising main-chain polyether blocks.
- 17. A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, said cover comprising at least one layer, wherein an outermost cover layer is formed of a composition which consists of about 5 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one ionomer and about 95 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one polyamide polymer and, optionally, further consisting of at least one additive selected from dyes, whitening agents, UV absorbers, antioxidants, stabilizers, softening agents, plasticizers, compatibilizers, impact modifiers, toughening agents, reinforcing materials, nucleating agents and combinations of these additives, with the proviso that the polyamide polymer is not a block polyamide copolymer comprising main-chain polyether blocks.
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21. A method of making a golf ball, comprising:
- forming a golf ball core;
forming a substantially compatibilizer-free blend, said blend consisting of polymeric components comprising from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one ionomer and about 90 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one polyamide polymer and, optionally, further consisting of at least one additive selected from dyes, whitening agents, UV absorbers, antioxidants, stabilizers, softening agents, plasticizers, impact modifiers, toughening agents, reinforcing materials nucleating agents and combinations of these additives, with the proviso that the polyamide polymer is not a block polyamide copolymer comprising main-chain polyether blocks; and
forming an outermost cover layer upon said ball by molding the blend around the golf ball core. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
- forming a golf ball core;
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35. A method of making a golf ball, comprising:
- forming a golf ball core;
forming a cover blend that consists of about 5 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one ionomer and about 95 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one polyamide polymer and, optionally, further consisting of at least one additive selected from dyes, whitening agents, UV absorbers, antioxidants, stabilizers, softening agents, plasticizers, compatibilizers, impact modifiers, toughening agents, reinforcing materials, nucleating agents and combinations of these additives, with the proviso that the polyamide polymer is not a block polyamide copolymer comprising main-chain polyether blocks; and
forming an outermost cover layer upon said ball by molding the blend around the golf ball core. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
- forming a golf ball core;
Specification