Golf ball comprising renewable resource component

Abstract

The invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least one of the core and the cover comprises about 10 wt % or greater of a renewable polymer composition comprising an ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound having the formula:—OCR1R2(CR3R4)nCO—wherein n is an integer, and wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are selected from the group comprising saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals, halo- and hydroxy-substituted radicals, hydroxy radicals, halogen radicals; nitrogen-substituted radicals, oxygen-substituted radicals, or hydrogen atoms. The ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compound is coupled with the at least one non renewable polymer composition by at least one of dipole-dipole coupling, ion-dipole coupling, ion-ion coupling and coupling via hydrogen bonding. In one embodiment, the golf ball comprises about 90 wt % or less of the non renewable polymer composition. The golf ball may also comprise an intermediate layer disposed about the core and adjacent the cover, wherein at least one of the core, the cover and the intermediate layer comprises the renewable polymer composition. The at least one of the core, the cover and the intermediate layer may comprise a hardness of from about 50 Shore C to about 90 Shore C.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 752,378, filed Apr. 1, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a golf ball including a renewable resource component comprising a biodegradable composition in at least one of the golf ball core (having one or more layers), intermediate layer(s) and cover layer(s). The resulting golf ball possesses desirable playing characteristics such as high resiliency, sustained impact durability, and soft feel, meanwhile protecting the environment over an extended period of time by being decomposable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Golf balls are generally divided into two classes: solid and wound. Solid golf balls include a solid core of one or more layers, a cover of one or more layers, and optionally one or more intermediate layers. Wound golf balls typically include a solid, hollow, or fluid-filled cente...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]This invention is therefore directed to an improved golf ball comprising a renewable polymer composition comprising ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compounds and their functionalized derivatives and blends. In particular, the golf ball of the invention comprises a core and a cover, wherein at least one of the core and the cover comprises about 10 wt % or greater of a renewable polymer composition comprising a UHMWPHA compound having the formula:—OCR1R2(CR3R4)nCO—wherein n is an integer, and wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are selected from the group comprising saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals, halo- and hydroxy-substituted radicals, hydroxy radicals, halogen radicals; nitrogen-substituted radicals, oxygen-substituted radicals, or hydrogen atoms. Such compositions provide improved resiliency and impact durability during play. The ball travels a longer distance from a driver swing, meanwhile maintaining controllability closer to the green.

[0015]In the golf ball of the invention, two particularly synergistic structural arrangements are simultaneously in place within the renewable polymer composition to achieve high resiliency, sustained impact durability, and soft feel. First, the long chain of the UHMWPHA compound, characteristic of its ultra high molecular weight, beneficially serves to transfer load more effectively to the polymer backbone by strengthening intermolecular interactions, resulting in a tougher golf ball material with higher impact strength, etc. This occurs from an increase in chain interactions such as Van der Waals attractions and entanglements that come with increased chain length and tend to fix the individual chains more strongly in position and resist deformations and matrix breakup, both at higher stresses and higher temperatures.

[0016]Meanwhile, the above-enumerated desired golf ball characteristics are further enhanced or achieved where the UHMWPHA compound and the at least one non-renewable polymer composition are associated, coupled and / or bonded via / by at least one of a dipole-dipole interaction, ion-dipole interaction, ion-ion interaction and hydrogen bonding with other golf ball materials. In one embodiment, the UHMWPHA exhibits a bond energy in the range of from about 150 to 250 KJ / mol when bonded with at least one non-renewable polymer composition by dipole-dipole interactions. In another embodiment, the UHMWPHA exhibits a bond energy in the range of from about 450 to 550 KJ / mol when bonded with at least one non-renewable polymer composition by hydrogen bonding. In another embodiment, the UHMWPHA exhibits a bond energy in the range of from about 600 to 950 KJ / mol when bonded with at least one non-renewable polymer composition by ion-dipole or ion-ion interactions. The above bond energy may determined using any technique known in the art, including a calorimetry technique.

[0018]Accordingly, this dual structural synergistic arrangement of the invention within the renewable polymer composition of the golf ball itself and between it and the non-renewable material enables golf ball manufacturers to inexpensively provide a biodegradable golf ball having high resiliency, sustained impact durability, and soft feel.

Problems solved by technology

This is a difficult task, however, given the physical limitations of currently-available polymers.

Manufacturers likewise struggle in their attempt to improve intermediate and cover layers.

For example, the hardness range in golf ball utilizing conventional ionomer blends is still limited and even the softest blends suffer from a “plastic” feel according to some golfers.

However, these polyurethane components are likewise petroleum based, furthering the long term detrimental effect on the environment.

However, Egashira et al., like other attempts, fails to recognize or appreciate that the molecular weight of the renewable resource component in a biodegradable composition, i.e. low, medium high or ultra high is an important consideration and directly impacts golf ball characteristics, playability and melt processability during injection or compression molding of golf ball layers.

Meanwhile, Egashira et al. and other attempts to incorporate biodegradable materials in golf balls do not disclose nor appreciate the benefits of incorporating ultra high molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoate compounds (UHMWPHA) in at least one of the core, core layer(s), intermediate layer(s) and cover layer(s) of a golf ball to improve golf ball characteristics.