Interpenetrating polymer networks using blocked polyurethane/polyurea prepolymers for golf ball layers
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a portion of a golf ball comprising the steps of:
- providing a first polymeric precursor comprising a polyurethane or polyurea prepolymer having blocked isocyanate groups and a first curing agent;
providing a second polymeric precursor comprising an epoxy resin;
adding a second curing agent to the second polymeric precursor to form a second polymeric system wherein the second curing agent is substantially unreactive with the first polymeric precursor;
combining the first polymeric precursor and second polymeric system in a vessel;
elevating the temperature in the vessel to an amount sufficient to unblock the isocyanate groups in the first polymeric component to provide a first polymeric system resulting in an interpenetrating polymer network (“
IPN”
) comprising the first and second polymeric systems; and
forming the IPN into the portion of the golf ball, wherein the step of adding occurs prior to the steps of combining and elevating.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method of forming a golf ball that contains an interpenetrating polymer network, or IPN, which includes at least two polymeric systems, in one or more of the layers. The first polymeric system may include a polyurethane-based or polyurea-based system having blocked isocyanate groups and the second polymeric system may include an epoxy-based or acrylic-based system, wherein the two systems are polymerized or cured simultaneously or sequentially to form an IPN.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of forming a portion of a golf ball comprising the steps of:
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providing a first polymeric precursor comprising a polyurethane or polyurea prepolymer having blocked isocyanate groups and a first curing agent; providing a second polymeric precursor comprising an epoxy resin; adding a second curing agent to the second polymeric precursor to form a second polymeric system wherein the second curing agent is substantially unreactive with the first polymeric precursor; combining the first polymeric precursor and second polymeric system in a vessel; elevating the temperature in the vessel to an amount sufficient to unblock the isocyanate groups in the first polymeric component to provide a first polymeric system resulting in an interpenetrating polymer network (“
IPN”
) comprising the first and second polymeric systems; andforming the IPN into the portion of the golf ball, wherein the step of adding occurs prior to the steps of combining and elevating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of forming a portion of a golf ball comprising the steps of:
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providing a first polymeric component comprising an isocyanate, a polyol or amine-terminated component and a blocked, delayed action curative; providing a second polymeric component comprising an epoxy resin or acrylate resin; reacting the second polymeric component with a second curing agent to form a second polymeric system, wherein the second curing agent is substantially unreactive with first polymeric component; combining the first polymeric component and second polymeric system; exposing the first polymeric component to elevated temperature to form a first polymeric system resulting in an interpenetrating network (“
IPN”
) comprising the first and second polymeric systems; andforming the IPN into the portion of the golf ball, wherein the step of reacting occurs prior to the steps of combining and exposing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification