Golf Ball Core Adhesion via Oxazoline Interlayer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf balls with a rubber core and ionomer resin cover layer face inadequate adhesion, leading to reduced durability and performance issues, particularly in terms of cracking resistance and spin performance.
Innovation Solution
Enhancing adhesion between the rubber core and ionomer resin cover layer by forming the core's outermost layer with a rubber composition containing α,β-unsaturated metal carboxylate and surface-treating it with an oxazoline group-containing substance, followed by molding a thermoplastic resin envelope layer with α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surface treatments (silane-containing adhesion promoter, aqueous adhesion-promoting treatment, urethane resin emulsion, rubber latex) are applied to the rubber core surface, then adhesion between core and cover layer is improved to some extent, but adhesion remains inadequate when the cover layer is made of ionomer resin, and durability to cracking is still insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the rubber core by incorporating specific components (polybutadiene rubber with high cis-1,4-bond content, zinc acrylate, and oxazoline group-containing substance) to achieve optimal adhesion with ionomer resin cover layers while maintaining durability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite rubber core structure combining multiple materials (polybutadiene rubber, zinc acrylate crosslinking agent, and oxazoline group-containing substance) to simultaneously achieve good adhesion to ionomer resin and resistance to cracking
2Stability of the object's composition
If oxazoline group-containing substance is used as an ionomer resin compatibilizing agent within the resin composition, then resin properties are improved, but adhesion between rubber core and envelope layer is not sufficiently enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The oxazoline group-containing substance acts as an intermediary between the rubber core and the ionomer resin envelope layer, forming chemical bonds with both materials to create strong interfacial adhesion that neither material could achieve alone
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
This method significantly improves the durability and spin performance of golf balls by creating a strong bond between the core and cover layer, increasing the ball's resistance to cracking without compromising other performance attributes like flight and feel.
Implementation Method 1
a surface of the core outermost layer and the envelope layer adjoin each other through an intervening oxazoline group-containing substance
Implementation Method 2
an outermost layer of the core is formed of a rubber composition containing a base rubber and an α,β-unsaturated metal carboxylate
Data Source
AI summary
In a golf ball having a core composed of one or more layer, the outermost layer of the core is formed of a rubber composition containing a base rubber and an α,β-unsaturated metal carboxylate, an envelope layer directly encasing the core is formed of a resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin having a structure that includes α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymerization units, and a surface of the core outermost layer and the envelope layer adjoin each other through an intervening oxazoline group-containing substance. The golf ball has improved adhesion between the rubber-based core and the cover layer that directly encases the core and is formed of an ionomer resin or other α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer-containing resin material.