Golf ball layer compositions comprising modified amine curing agents

• US 7,772,354 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Wu, Shenshen, Kuntimaddi, Manjari, Ricci, Shawn, Rajagopalan, Murali, Harris, Kevin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTTNER, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US11/599,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 528/64
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0023 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0092 Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers
• 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 18/3234 cycloaliphatic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/324 containing only one aromatic ring

Abstract

Polyurethane-based and polyurea-based compositions including modified amine curing agents for use in golf ball layers where modified amine curing agent of the invention allows control of the reaction rate by providing a composition with both primary and secondary amine linkages.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least one of the core and cover is formed from a composition comprising a polyurea prepolymer and a curing agent consisting essentially of a compound having the formula.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the composition is substantially free of urethane linkages.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the polyurea prepolymer comprises the reaction product of an isocyanate and an amine-terminated compound.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the composition is thermoset.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the composition is thermoplastic.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover of the golf ball is formed from the composition.

7. A golf ball comprising:

a core; and

a cover, wherein the cover comprises a composition formed from a prepolymer and a curing agent, wherein the curing agent consists essentially of a compound having the formula

8. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the prepolymer comprises the reaction product of an amine-terminated compound and an isocyanate, and wherein the amine-terminated compound is selected from the group consisting of amine-terminated hydrocarbons, amine-terminated polyethers, amine-terminated polyesters, amine-terminated polycaprolactones, amine-terminated polycarbonates, amine-terminated polyamides, and mixtures thereof.

9. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the cover has a thickness of about 0.02 inches to about 0.035 inches.

10. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the golf ball further comprises a layer disposed between the core and the cover, and wherein the layer has a first Shore D hardness and the cover has a second Shore D hardness, and wherein the ratio of second Shore D hardness to the first Shore D hardness is about 0.7 or less.