Bio-based Polyurethane Golf Ball Cover Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current polyurethane compositions used in golf balls rely on petroleum-based materials, which pose environmental concerns and competition with food sources, and lack sustainable alternatives that maintain performance and durability.
Innovation Solution
Development of thermoplastic and thermoset polyurethane compositions using bio-based materials, specifically incorporating a reaction product of an isocyanate-reactive component and an isocyanate-containing component, where the isocyanate-reactive component includes a precursor reaction product of oxygen- or nitrogen-containing heterocycles and carbon dioxide, reducing the carbon footprint and avoiding competition with food sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If petroleum-based polyurethane compositions are used in golf balls, then performance and durability are achieved, but environmental sustainability deteriorates and competition with food sources occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing petroleum-based isocyanate-reactive components with bio-based alternatives derived from non-food sources such as castor oil or synthetic polyols. This substitution maintains the elastomeric properties and performance characteristics while eliminating the harmful dependency on non-renewable resources and food-based feedstocks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material strategies by combining bio-based isocyanate-reactive components with isocyanate-containing components to create polyurethane compositions that integrate the benefits of renewable materials with the proven performance of conventional polyurethane chemistry, achieving both sustainability and reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If natural oil polyols are used as bio-based alternatives, then renewable resource usage increases, but autoxidation of fatty acid chains occurs forming odoriferous degradation products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the problematic unsaturated fatty acid chains prone to autoxidation by using either fully saturated bio-based isocyanate-reactive components or by removing the unsaturated portions and replacing them with stable aliphatic structures, thereby preventing the formation of odoriferous degradation products while retaining renewable resource benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the instability of natural oil polyols by using stabilized bio-based alternatives that may have shorter shelf lives but consistent performance, or by incorporating antioxidants and stabilizers that extend the service life and prevent degradation, effectively managing the short-living nature of bio-based materials
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bio-based polyurethane compositions provide durable and resilient golf ball cover layers with improved environmental sustainability, maintaining performance attributes similar to or exceeding conventional polyurethane compositions while reducing carbon emissions.
Implementation Method 1
polyurethanes are produced by the reaction of a multi-functional isocyanate (NCO—R—NCO) with a long-chain polyol having terminal hydroxyl groups (OH—OH) in the presence of a catalyst and other additives
Implementation Method 2
The resulting polyurethane has elastomeric properties because of its 'hard' and 'soft' segments, which are covalently bonded together. This phase separation occurs because the mainly non-polar, low melting soft segments are incompatible with the polar, high melting hard segments
Implementation Method 3
the isocyanate-reactive component includes a precursor reaction product of oxygen- or nitrogen-containing heterocycles and carbon dioxide
Data Source
AI summary
Thermoplastic and thermoset compositions for use in golf balls that are formed from bio-based materials and that include urethane linkages, golf ball components formed using such thermoplastic or thermoset compositions, and golf balls including such golf components.