Golf ball compositions

• US 9,808,675 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Michalewich, Michael, Comeau, Brian, Ricci, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US14/937,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20160059083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 473351-378
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0009 Polygonal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0012 Dimple profile, i.e. cross-sectional view
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0018 Specified number of dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00221 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00621 Centre hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00622 Surface hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0063 Hardness gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• 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 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls
• 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 18/3868 : the sulfur atom belonging to a sulfide group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4854 : Polyethers containing oxyalkylene groups having four carbon atoms in the alkylene group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/7671 : containing only one alkylene bisphenyl group
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/025 : containing two or more polymers of the same hierarchy C08L, and differing only in parameters such as density, comonomer content, molecular weight, structure
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/02 : Homopolymers or copolymers of acids; Metal or ammonium salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 175/04 : Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 175/08 : from polyethers

Abstract

Disclosed herein are polyurethane golf ball compositions. The compositions are prepared by adding a UV absorber to a polyol prior to reacting the polyol with an isocyanate to form a prepolymer, or by adding the UV absorber to the prepolymer, which is then reacted with a curing agent to form the polyurethane.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core layer formed from a diene rubber composition and having a diameter of from 0.950 inches to 1.015 inches, an Atti compression of 30 or less, a center Shore C hardness of from 65 to 75, a surface Shore C hardness of from 50 to 65, and a zero hardness gradient or a negative hardness gradient wherein the difference between the Shore C hardness of the outer surface of the inner core layer and the Shore C hardness of the center of the inner core layer is from −

15 to −

5;

an outer core layer formed from a diene rubber composition and having a thickness of from 0.250 inches to 0.300 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of from 85 to 95;

an inner cover layer formed from an ionomer composition and having a thickness of from 0.030 inches to 0.040 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of 93 or greater;

an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane composition and having a thickness of from 0.030 inches to 0.035 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of from 75 to 90;

a pigmented solvent-borne primer coat; and

a solvent-borne top coat;

wherein the polyurethane outer cover layer composition comprises a reaction product of a prepolymer and a curing agent, wherein the prepolymer is a reaction product of a polyol mixture and a diisocyanate, wherein the polyol mixture comprises 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol; and

wherein a core assembly consisting of the inner core layer and the outer core layer has an Atti compression of from 80 to 95.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol is present in an amount of from 4 wt % to 6 wt %, based on the total weight of the polyurethane outer cover layer composition.

3. A golf ball comprising:

a solid, single-layer core formed from a diene rubber composition and having a diameter of from 1.510 inches to 1.530 inches, an Atti compression of from 65 to 80, a center Shore C hardness of from 65 to 75, a surface Shore C hardness of from 65 to 75, and a zero hardness gradient or a negative or positive hardness gradient wherein the difference between the Shore C hardness of the outer surface of the core and the Shore C hardness of the center of the core is from −

8 to 8;

an inner cover layer formed from an ionomer composition and having a thickness of from 0.040 inches to 0.050 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of 93 or greater;

an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane composition and having a thickness of from 0.030 inches to 0.035 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of from 75 to 90;

a pigmented solvent-borne primer coat; and

a solvent-borne top coat;

wherein the polyurethane outer cover layer composition comprises a reaction product of a prepolymer and a curing agent, wherein the prepolymer is a reaction product of a polyol mixture and a diisocyanate, wherein the polyol mixture comprises 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol.

4. The golf ball of claim 3, wherein 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol is present in an amount of from 4 wt % to 6 wt %, based on the total weight of the polyurethane outer cover layer composition.