Golf Ball Layers Formed of Polyurethane-Based and Polyurea-Based Compositions Incorporating Block Copolymers

Abstract

A golf ball including a core and a cover, wherein cover is formed from a composition comprising the reaction product of a prepolymer including a soft-segment comprising an amine-terminated polyether and a hard segment including a uretdione of hexamethylene diisocyanate; and an amine-terminated curing agent; wherein the amine-terminated polyether has the structure:where x and z have a combined value of 3.6-8 and y is 9-50, R is an alkyl group having 1-20 carbons, a phenyl group, a cyclic group, or mixtures thereof, R1 is —(CH2)a—, where a is 1-10, a phenylene group, a cyclic group, or a mixture thereof, and R3 is hydrogen, a methyl group, or a mixture thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 785,496, filed Apr. 18, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 900,468, filed Jul. 28, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,211,624, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 409,092, filed Apr. 9, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,621, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 066,637, filed Feb. 6, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,326, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 453,701, filed Dec. 3, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,986; and also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 228,311, filed Aug. 27, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,835,794, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 466,434, filed Dec. 17, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,176, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 951,963, f...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The present invention is generally directed to golf equipment having at least a portion formed of a polyurea composition. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to one-piece golf balls including polyurea. In another embodiment, the compositions of the invention are used in two-piece and multi-component,

Problems solved by technology

However, balata covered balls are easily damaged, and thus lack the durability required by the average golfer.

However, while SURLYN® covered golf balls, as described in the preceding patents, possess virtually cut-proof covers, the spin and feel are inferior compared to balata covered balls.

However, golf ball covers made from polyurethane have not, to date, fully matched SURLYN® golf balls with respect to resilience or the rebound of the golf ball cover, which is a function of the initial velocity of a golf ball after impact with a golf club.

Furthermore, because the polyurethanes used to make the covers of such golf balls generally contain an aromatic component, e.g., aromatic diisocyanate, polyol, or polyamine, they are susceptible to discoloration upon exposure to light, particularly ultraviolet (UV) light.

The application of a uniform white pigmented coat to the dimpled surface of the golf ball is a difficult process that adds time and costs to the manufacture of a golf ball.

In addition, while certain polyols provide more stability to the polyurethane polymer in terms of moisture resistance, polyurethanes remain highly susceptible to changes in their physical properties due to absorption of moisture.

Once these two ingredients are combined, the polyurea is formed, and thus the ability to vary the physical properties of the composition is limited.

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