Interpenetrating polymer networks using blocked polyurethane/polyurea prepolymers for golf ball layers

• US 7,851,561 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Wu, Shenshen, Kuntimaddi, Manjari, Rajagopalan, Murali
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTTNER, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US11/976,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20080058478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 525/454
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00221 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/003 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0034 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0037 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• 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 37/06 Elastic cores
• 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 18/3206 aliphatic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 2270/00 Compositions for creating interpenetrating networks
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/04 Macromolecular compounds according to groups C08L7/00 - C08L49/00, or C08L55/00 - C08L57/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/06 Homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated hydrocarbons; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/22 Macromolecular compounds not provided for in C08L2666/16 - C08L2666/20
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes

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.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein a portion of the golf ball is formed from an interpenetrating polymer network comprising:

a first polymeric system comprising a saturated isocyanate having terminal isocyanate groups, an amine-terminated component, and a blocked, delayed action curative; and

a second polymeric system comprising an acrylate resin and an initiator.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first polymeric system further comprises a catalyst comprising an organometallic compound, tertiary amine, or combination thereof.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the blocked delayed action curative comprises methylene dianiline and sodium chloride.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the initiator comprises benzoyl peroxide, t-amyl peroxide, or mixtures thereof.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate layer.

6. The golf ball of claim 5, wherein the portion comprises the cover.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the blocked, delayed action curative has a deblocking temperature of about 175°

F. to about 350°

F.

8. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the cover comprises an interpenetrating polymer network comprising:

a first polymeric system comprising a saturated isocyanate having terminal isocyanate groups, an amine-terminated component, and a curing agent, wherein the curing agent comprises methylene dianiline and sodium chloride; and

a second polymeric system comprising an acrylate resin and an initiator, wherein the first and second polymeric systems are not bonded to each other.

9. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein the initiator comprises benzoyl peroxide, t-amyl peroxide, or mixtures thereof.