Phase transition golf ball and method of use

• US 8,088,026 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Performance Materials NA, Inc. (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, John Chu, Granato, Janice V., Hall, Matthew S., Morken, Peter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US11/906,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20080081710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 473/351, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/351
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0024 Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/005 Ball heating devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/105 using a susceptor
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/106 in the form of fillings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/6491 combined with the use of susceptors H05B6/80 and subgroups takes precedence

Abstract

A phase transition golf ball comprises a phase transition material. The phase transition material may optionally include a microwave susceptor or an induction susceptor. The phase transition material preferably comprises an ethylene acid copolymer, or an ionomer of an ethylene acid copolymer. The performance of the phase transition golf ball, for example its hardness or compression, is adjusted by inducing a complete or partial phase transition in the phase transition material. The extent of the adjustment in performance is correlated with the extent of the phase transition. Preferably, the phase transition is reversible and repeatable and takes place at temperatures that might be achieved through the use of common household appliances. Also preferably, the phase transition material returns to its original state over an extended period, for example hours or days.

Claims

1. A method of customizing the performance of a golf ball, said method comprising the steps of providing a phase transition golf ball comprising a phase transition material;

predetermining an extent of a phase transition;

inducing the phase transition in at least a portion of the phase transition material, wherein the phase transition remains at least partially unreversed for an extended period of time; and

measuring a property affecting the playability of the phase transition golf ball;

wherein the property is altered to a predetermined extent by predetermining the extent of the phase transition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the phase transition is induced by heating the phase transition golf ball.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the phase transition golf ball is heated by conduction heating, by convection heating, by induction heating, or by microwave irradiation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the phase transition golf ball is heated in a warm water bath, a boiling water bath, a steam bath, a conventional oven, in a glove compartment, in a trunk of a car, in a microwave oven, by removal from a cold environment, or by magnetic induction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the extended period of time is at least about 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 d, 7 d, 10 d, 14 d, 21 d, or 28 d.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the property affecting the playability of the phase transition golf ball is selected from the group consisting of hardness, stiffness, compression, resilience, launch angle, spin, and initial velocity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the phase transition material comprises an acid copolymer or an ionomer of an acid copolymer, and, optionally, an organic acid.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the phase transition golf ball is heated to a temperature greater than 120°

F. (49°

C.), 135°

F. (57°

C.) or 149°

F. (65°

C.).

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

allowing the phase transition to reverse at least partially;

once more inducing a phase transition in at least a portion of the phase transition material; and

, optionally, repeating the steps of allowing the phase transition to reverse at least partially and once more inducing a phase transition in at least a portion of the phase transition material.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the phase transition material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of paraffin waxes, copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, ethylene acrylate copolymers, acid copolymers, and ionomers of acid copolymers.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the phase transition is selected from the group consisting of melting, solidification, changing from a crystalline to a more amorphous state, and glass transition.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the phase transition material further comprises one or more additional polymeric components selected from the group consisting of an ethylene acid copolymer or an ionomer of an ethylene acid copolymer;

a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer;

a styrene (ethylene-butylene)-styrene block copolymer;

a polyurethane;

a methylcellulose;

an oligomeric or polymeric polyamide;

a polyester;

a polyvinyl alcohol;

a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene, a polypropylene, and an ethylene/propylene copolymer;

a metallocene-catalyzed polyolefin;

an ethylene copolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate, ethylene/(meth)acrylate, ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid, ethylene/maleic acid monoester, ethylene/maleic acid, ethylene/(meth)acrylate/maleic acid monoester, ethylene/(meth)acrylate/maleic acid, ethylene/epoxy-functionalized monomer and ethylene/CO;

a metallocene-catalyzed copolymer of ethylene with a polyvinyl alcohol or a polyacrylate;

an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer;

a functionalized polymer with grafted maleic anhydride functionality and epoxidized polymer;

an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM);

a ground up powder of a thermoset elastomer; and

a thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyetheresters, polyamide ethers, polyether ureas and block copolymers based on polyether-block-amide.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the phase transition golf ball further comprises a microwave susceptor or an induction susceptor.

14. The method claim 13, wherein the microwave susceptor or the induction susceptor comprises one or more of a metal, an inorganic compound, another conductive material, or a ceramic flake.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the microwave susceptor or the induction susceptor comprises one or more of molybdenum, stainless steel, niobium, aluminum, silicon carbide, graphite, or a ferromagnetic ceramic flake.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the phase transition golf ball further comprises a filler having a higher thermal transfer coefficient.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the filler is a metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten, iron, titanium and aluminum.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the phase transition golf ball further comprises a filler having a lower thermal transfer coefficient.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the filler is a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, tungsten oxide, alumina, silica, titania, talc, clay, and zeolite.