Graphene core for a golf ball

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9789366-B1
Application number	US-201715436169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2017
Priority date	Sep 28, 2016
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A golf ball with a core comprising polybutadiene and graphene is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a single core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. Alternatively, the golf ball has a dual core with an inner core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. Alternatively, the golf ball has a dual core with an outer core comprising polybutadiene and graphene.

First claim

We claim as our invention the following:

1. A golf ball comprising:
a center core comprising polybutadiene in an amount ranging from 40 to 90 weight percent, polyisoprene in an amount ranging from 1 to 30 weight percent, zinc diacrylate in an amount ranging from 10 to 50 weight percent, zinc oxide in an amount ranging from 1 to 30 weight percent, zinc stearate in an amount ranging from 1 to 20 weight percent, peroxide initiator in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 10 weight percent, and a graphene material in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 weight percent of the center core, wherein the graphene has a surface area ranging from 150 m 2 /g to 1000 m 2 /g; and
a cover layer disposed over the center core.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material ranges from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the center core.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material ranges from 0.6 to 1.5 weight percent of the center core.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an outer core disposed over the center core;
an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.03 inch to 0.09 inch, the inner mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 34 to 55;
an outer mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.050 inch;
and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer has a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch;

wherein the cover layer has a lower Shore D hardness than the outer mantle layer, the outer mantle layer has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer, the outer core has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer and the center core;
wherein the inner core has a deflection of more than 0.230 under a load of 200 pounds, and wherein the outer core over the inner core has a deflection of more than 0.080 under a load of 200 pounds.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an outer core disposed over the center core;
an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.090 inch, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 50;
an outer mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.070 inch, the outer mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 71, wherein the inner mantle is thicker than the outer mantle, and the outer mantle is harder than the inner mantle; and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.050 inch, wherein the cover layer has a Shore D hardness less than the hardness of the outer mantle layer, the outer mantle layer has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer, the outer core has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer and the center core;

wherein the inner core has a deflection of more than 0.230 under a load of 200 pounds, and wherein the outer core over the inner core has a deflection of more than 0.080 under a load of 200 pounds.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an outer core disposed over the center core;
an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.070 inch to 0.090 inch, the inner mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 36 to 44;
an outer mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch, the outer mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the outer mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 65 to 71; and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch;
wherein the cover layer has a lower Shore D hardness than the outer mantle layer, the outer mantle layer has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer, the outer core has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer and the center core;
wherein the inner core has a deflection of more than 0.230 under a load of 200 pounds, and wherein the outer core over the inner core has a deflection of more than 0.080 under a load of 200 pounds.

7. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an inner mantle layer disposed over the center core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 40, the inner mantle layer composed of a composed of an ionomer material;
a first center mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the first center mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the first center mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 40 to 55, the first center mantle layer composed of a fully neutralized polymer material;
a second center mantle layer disposed over the second center mantle layer, the second center mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the second center mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 45 to 55, the second center mantle layer composed of a fully neutralized polymer material;
an outer mantle layer disposed over the second center mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the outer mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the outer mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 60 to 75; and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch.

8. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an inner mantle layer disposed over the center core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 40, the inner mantle layer composed of an ionomer material;
a first center mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the first center mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the first center mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 40 to 55, the first center mantle layer composed of a fully neutralized polymer material;
a second center mantle layer disposed over the second center mantle layer, the second center mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the second center mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 45 to 55, the second center mantle layer composed of a fully neutralized polymer material;
an outer mantle layer disposed over the second center mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the outer mantle layer composed of a blend of ionomers, the outer mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 60 to 75; and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch.

9. A golf ball comprising:
an inner core;
an outer core comprising a polybutadiene in an amount ranging from 40 to 90 weight percent, polyisoprene in an amount ranging from 1 to 30 weight percent, zinc diacr

Assignees

• Callaway Golf Co

Inventors

• Chavan Vijay
• Bartels David

Classifications

• A63B37/0074

  Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core · CPC title

• A63B37/0043

  Hardness · CPC title

• A63B37/0033

  Thickness · CPC title

• B29L2031/546

  Golf balls · CPC title

• B29C43/203

  Making multilayered articles · CPC title