Golf Ball Urethane Coating Wet Spin Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf balls experience a decrease in spin rate and controllability under wet conditions, particularly during rainy weather, leading to reduced distance and poor performance with drivers and approach shots.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design that satisfies specific spin rate retention and launch angle retention formulas (Spin W/Spin D≥0.70 and Ang W/Ang D<1.20) using a core and cover structure with a urethane coating containing a polyester polyol and polyisocyanate, along with a water-repellent additive, to maintain spin and control in wet conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional golf ball designs are used, then distance on driver shots is maintained under dry conditions, but spin rate decreases significantly under wet conditions leading to poor controllability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the molecular weight and functional group composition of polyester polyol. Specifically, it uses polyester polyol with number-average molecular weight of 2,000-10,000 and specific hydroxyl values, along with controlling the ratio of carboxyl-containing to hydroxyl-containing polyols to be 95:5 to 5:95. These parameter optimizations enable the coating to maintain spin rate retention of 70% or more under wet conditions while preserving controllability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by creating a multi-component coating system that combines polyester polyol with specific functional groups (carboxyl and hydroxyl), silane-modified polyester resin, and other additives. This composite coating structure provides both water resistance and spin control properties, resolving the contradiction between maintaining spin rate and ensuring controllability in wet conditions.
2Ease of operation
If spin rate is increased under wet conditions to improve controllability, then controllability improves, but distance traveled by driver shots decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight parameters of polyester polyol (2,000-10,000 range) and controls the functional group ratios to achieve a balance where spin rate retention is 70% or more without excessive spin increase. This parameter optimization ensures that controllability is maintained while distance loss is minimized, resolving the trade-off between these two parameters.
3Reliability
If a coating layer with water-repellent properties is added to maintain spin under wet conditions, then spin rate retention improves, but the complexity of manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves multi-functionality by designing a coating system where polyester polyol with specific functional groups simultaneously provides water repellency, adhesion to the cover, and spin rate retention. The silane-modified polyester resin and other components contribute multiple functions including water resistance and bonding. This multi-functional approach maintains spin performance without requiring separate specialized layers for each function, thereby limiting the increase in manufacturing complexity.
4Strength
If the molecular weight of polyester polyol is increased to improve coating durability, then coating strength improves, but the spin rate retention under wet conditions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and optimizes the molecular weight parameter of polyester polyol, specifying a number-average molecular weight range of 2,000-10,000. It also controls the hydroxyl value and the ratio of carboxyl-containing to hydroxyl-containing polyols. These parameter optimizations ensure that the coating achieves sufficient strength and durability while maintaining spin rate retention of 70% or more under wet conditions, resolving the contradiction between strength and spin retention.
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 golf ball minimizes spin rate decrease and enhances controllability in rainy weather, ensuring improved performance for professional and skilled golfers by maintaining spin and control on approach shots.
Implementation Method 1
a water-repellent additive, to maintain spin and control in wet conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball composed of a core and a cover has a spin rate and a launch angle on approach shots at a head speed (HS) of 20 m/s or 10 m/s that satisfy formulas (1) and (2) below:Spin W/Spin D≥0.70 (1)Ang W/Ang D<1.20 (2).Here, Spin D is the spin rate (rpm) under dry conditions, Spin W is the spin rate (rpm) under wet conditions, Ang W is the launch angle (°) under wet conditions and Ang D is the launch angle (°) under dry conditions. The golf ball suppresses a decrease in the spin rate on approach shots in rainy weather and thus has an improved controllability, making it especially useful to professional golfers and skilled amateurs who desire a high spin performance around the green.