Golf balls incorporating double network cross-linked compositions comprising a base thermoplastic

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10465072-B2
Application number	US-201615278327-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2016
Priority date	Sep 28, 2016
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

Golf ball comprising at least one layer consisting of a double network cross-linked composition comprising a mixture of a base thermoplastic polymer composition and a double network polymer composition. The double network polymer composition comprises a plurality of particulates of a polymer composition that is elongated from 10% to 200%, or at least 50%, or at least 100% or at least 150% or 200% or greater during a partial cure state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A golf ball comprising at least one layer comprising a mixture of a base thermoplastic polymer composition and a plurality of particulates created from a first double network polymer composition having a predetermined total surface area and a second double network polymer composition that differs from the first double network polymer composition and has a predetermined total surface area, wherein each double network polymer composition has been elongated before its cure is finished; and wherein the particulates of the first double network polymer composition and the particulates of the second double network polymer composition are included in the mixture in a proportion sufficient to create at least one property gradient within the layer.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the base thermoplastic polymer composition comprises at least one of ionomers; non-ionomeric acid polymers; polyurethanes, polyureas, and polyurethane-polyurea hybrids; polyester-based thermoplastic elastomers; polyamides, copolymers of ionomer and polyamide, polyamide-ethers, and polyamide-esters; ethylene-based homopolymers and copolymers; propylene-based homopolymers and copolymers; triblock copolymers based on styrene and ethylene/butylene; derivatives thereof that are compatibilized with at least one grafted or copolymerized functional group; and combinations thereof.

3. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein each double network polymer composition comprises a polymer composition that is elongated from 10% to 200% while partially cured.

4. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the double network polymer compositions is elongated at least 50% while partially cured.

5. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the double network polymer compositions is elongated at least 100% while partially cured.

6. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the double network polymer compositions is elongated at least 150% while partially cured.

7. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the double network polymer compositions is elongated 200% or greater while partially cured.

8. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein partial cure is characterized by a curing time of T90 or less.

9. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein partial cure is characterized by a curing time less than T90.

10. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein partial cure is characterized by a curing time T60 or less.

11. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein partial cure is characterized by a curing time T40 or less.

12. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the double network polymer compositions is elongated in a single step.

13. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the double network polymer compositions is elongated in at least two steps.

14. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the double network polymer compositions comprises at least one of ionomers; non-ionomeric acid polymers; polyurethanes, polyureas, and polyurethane-polyurea hybrids; polyester-based thermoplastic elastomers; polyamides, copolymers of ionomer and polyamide, polyamide-ethers, and polyamide-esters; ethylene-based homopolymers and copolymers; propylene-based homopolymers and copolymers; triblock copolymers based on styrene and ethylene/butylene; derivatives thereof that are compatibilized with at least one grafted or copolymerized functional group; polybutadiene, ethylene propylene rubber (EPR); ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM); styrene-butadiene rubber; butyl rubber, halobutyl rubber; polyurethane; polyurea; acrylonitrile butadiene rubber; polychloroprene; alkyl acrylate rubber; polyalkenamer; phenol formaldehyde; melamine formaldehyde; polyepoxide; polysiloxane; polyester; alkyd; polyisocyanurate; polycyanurate; polyacrylate; and combinations thereof.

15. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of particulates is created by at least one of chopping, cutting, or grinding each of the first double network polymer composition and second double network polymer composition after cure is finished.

16. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein a tan delta ratio of the base thermoplastic polymer composition to the total double network polymer compositions is greater than 1.0.

17. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein a tan delta ratio of the base thermoplastic polymer composition to the total double network polymer compositions is greater than 1.2.

18. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein a tan delta ratio of the base thermoplastic polymer composition to the total double network polymer compositions is greater than 1.4.

19. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein a tan delta ratio of the base thermoplastic polymer composition to the total double network polymer compositions is 1.5 or greater.

20. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein a tan delta ratio of the base thermoplastic polymer composition to the total double network polymer compositions is at least 1.6.

21. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein the at least one layer is a core layer.

22. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein the at least one layer is an intermediate layer disposed about a thermoset core.

23. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein the at least one layer is an intermediate layer disposed about a thermoplastic core.

24. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein the at least one layer is a cover layer.

25. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein the at least one layer is a coating layer that is formed about an outermost cover layer of the golf ball.

26. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein the at least one layer is a tie layer that is disposed between and adjacent to two differing golf ball layers that do not comprise any double network composition.

27. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the double network polymer compositions does not contain rubber.

28. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the double network polymer compositions consists of at least one of ionomers; non-ionomeric acid polymers; polyurethanes, polyureas, and polyurethane-polyurea hybrids; polyester-based thermoplastic elastomers; polyamides, copolymers of ionomer and polyamide, polyamide-ethers, and polyamide-esters; ethylene-based homopolymers and copolymers; propylene-based homopolymers and copolymers; triblock copolymers based on styrene and ethylene/butylene; derivatives thereof that are compatibilized with at least one grafted or copolymerized functional group; polychloroprene; phenol formaldehyde; melamine formaldehyde; polyepoxide; polysiloxane; polyester; alkyd; polyisocyanurate; polycyanurate; polyacrylate; and combinations thereof.

29. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the property gradient is a difference in Shore D hardness.

30. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the property gradient is a difference in percent neutralization.

31. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the property gradient is a difference in modulus.

32. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the property gradient is a difference in CoR.

Assignees

• Acushnet Co

Inventors

• Bulpett David A
• Comeau Brian

Classifications

• C08L101/00 Primary

  Compositions of unspecified macromolecular compounds · CPC title

• A63B37/0051

  Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details · CPC title

• A63B37/0024

  Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane · CPC title

• A63B37/0044

  Hardness gradient · CPC title

• C08L2205/22

  Mixtures comprising a continuous polymer matrix in which are dispersed crosslinked particles of another polymer · CPC title