Golf Ball Core Using Dithiane Monomers for Resiliency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf ball cores lack the necessary resiliency and soft feel balance, particularly when used for both driver and short game performance, as they rely on non-dithiane compounds.
Innovation Solution
A curable core composition incorporating a dithiane compound, cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, a metallic salt of unsaturated carboxylic acid as a crosslinking agent, a peroxide initiator, and filler materials to create a soft and resilient core with a hardness gradient suitable for golf ball performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional non-dithiane compounds are used in golf ball cores, then manufacturing is simpler and cost is lower, but resiliency and soft feel performance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the core by introducing dithiane compounds (specifically dithiane monomers or oligomers) as a key ingredient. This chemical parameter change transforms the core's resiliency and soft feel characteristics, achieving improved performance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through established curing processes with peroxide initiators and metallic salt crosslinking agents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite core material system combining dithiane compounds with rubber-based compounds (polybutadiene), crosslinking agents (metallic salts of unsaturated carboxylic acids), and filler materials. This composite approach integrates multiple functional components to achieve superior resiliency and soft feel that cannot be obtained with conventional single-compound cores
2Reliability
If wound golf ball construction is used to achieve high spin and soft feel, then playing characteristics improve, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the core's physical and chemical parameters through dithiane compound incorporation, achieving a hardness range of 20-60 Shore D with controlled hardness gradients. This parameter optimization provides soft feel and spin characteristics similar to wound balls while maintaining the simplicity of solid ball manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the expensive and complex wound ball construction with a simpler solid core design using dithiane compounds. This substitution achieves comparable performance characteristics (spin and soft feel) through material science rather than complex mechanical construction, reducing manufacturing cost and complexity
3Speed
If core hardness is increased to improve driver performance, then velocity improves, but short game feel and control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality differentiation through controlled hardness gradients within the core structure. The core can have varying hardness levels in different regions or layers, allowing optimization for both driver velocity (requiring harder characteristics) and short game feel (requiring softer characteristics), thus resolving the performance trade-off
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the core's hardness parameter within a specific range (20-60 Shore D) and controls the hardness gradient to balance driver and short game performance. The dithiane compound formulation allows precise tuning of these parameters to achieve both velocity and feel simultaneously
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 provides a golf ball with improved resiliency and soft feel, optimizing performance across various playing characteristics for both driver and short game scenarios without sacrificing durability.
Implementation Method 1
The initiator can be any known polymerization initiator which decomposes during the cure cycle. Suitable initiators include organic peroxide compounds
Implementation Method 2
A curable core composition comprises a dithiane compound, a rubber based compound comprising cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, a crosslinking agent, a peroxide initiator
Implementation Method 3
a crosslinking agent comprising a metallic salt of unsaturated carboxylic acid in an amount between 10 to 50 parts per hundred of rubber (pphr)
Implementation Method 4
A curable core composition comprises a dithiane compound... are used to provide soft and resilient cores
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a golf ball and, more particularly, a golf ball core having a curable core composition comprising a dithiane compound, a rubber based compound comprising cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, a crosslinking agent comprising a metallic salt of unsaturated carboxylic acid in an amount between 10 to 50 parts per hundred of rubber (pphr), a peroxide initiator, one or more filler materials, and optionally an organ sulfur compound, are used to provide soft and resilient cores.