Golf Ball Core Cross-Linking for Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf ball designs fail to achieve optimal flight distance and resilience on driver shots due to limitations in the composition and structure of the core, particularly in the cross-linking agents and additives used.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball with a spherical core formed from a rubber composition that includes a base rubber, an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid or its metal salt as a co-cross-linking agent, a cross-linking initiator, and an unsaturated fatty acid or its metal salt, where the unsaturated fatty acid has functional groups other than a carboxy group and a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond, along with a metal compound when only α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid is used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cross-linking agents and additives are used in the golf ball core, then the core structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but the flight distance and resilience on driver shots are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cross-linking system by specifying particular compounds: α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid with 3-8 carbon atoms (acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or their metal salts) combined with unsaturated fatty acids (ricinoleic acid, linoleic acid, or their metal salts). This specific parameter selection optimizes the cross-linking density and network structure to achieve superior resilience and flight distance while maintaining manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cross-linking system by combining two distinct types of cross-linking agents: α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid (providing primary cross-linking) and unsaturated fatty acid (providing secondary cross-linking and functional groups). This composite approach produces a multi-functional cross-linked network that simultaneously enhances resilience, durability, and energy transfer efficiency
2Use of energy by moving object
If the core composition is optimized for resilience, then energy transfer improves, but the cross-linking system becomes more complex requiring additional metal compounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes energy transfer by controlling the carbon chain length (3-8 atoms) of the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid and selecting unsaturated fatty acids with specific functional groups. These parameter changes create optimal cross-link spacing and network density that maximize elastic recovery and energy return during impact while managing the complexity through defined compositional ranges
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses metal salts (zinc salt, calcium salt, or magnesium salt) as intermediary compounds that facilitate the cross-linking reaction between the carboxylic acid groups and rubber polymer chains. These metal intermediaries enable efficient cross-link formation and enhance the overall energy transfer mechanism without requiring overly complex direct cross-linking systems
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 solution enhances the resilience and flight distance of the golf ball by improving the cross-linking properties and durability of the core, resulting in a more efficient energy transfer and better shot performance.
Implementation Method 1
The spherical core is formed from a rubber composition including a base rubber, a co-cross-linking agent, a cross-linking initiator, and an unsaturated fatty acid and/or a metal salt thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball includes a spherical core, and a cover covering the spherical core. The spherical core is formed from a rubber composition including a base rubber, a co-cross-linking agent, a cross-linking initiator, and an unsaturated fatty acid and/or a metal salt thereof, the co-cross-linking agent includes α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or a metal salt thereof, the unsaturated fatty acid and/or metal salt thereof excludes an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and a metal salt thereof, an unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid that forms the unsaturated fatty acid and/or metal salt thereof has a functional group other than a carboxy group and a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond, and the rubber composition further includes a metal compound when the co-cross-linking agent is only an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms.