Golf Ball Core Using Hydration Metal Salt for Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf balls with lower spin rates face challenges in maintaining durability due to poor workability and kneadability when water is included in the rubber composition, leading to insufficient durability and uneven radical reactions during vulcanization.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a metal salt containing hydration water instead of water into the rubber composition to improve workability and kneadability, ensuring uniform water supply and release during vulcanization, which results in a golf ball with both low spin rate and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is included in the rubber composition to reduce spin rate, then spin rate is reduced and distance is increased, but workability and kneadability deteriorate leading to poor durability
Solution Approach 1:
A metal salt containing hydration water is introduced as an intermediary substance that replaces direct water addition. The metal salt serves as a carrier that releases water gradually during vulcanization, thereby maintaining workability and kneadability during manufacturing while still providing the water necessary to reduce spin rate and improve durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of water delivery by using metal salts with different hydration water contents. By selecting metal salts with appropriate hydration water percentages (5-50% by mass), the invention optimizes both manufacturability and performance, allowing water to be supplied at a controlled rate during the molding process.
2Stability of the object's composition
If water is included in the rubber composition to maintain resilience, then resilience is maintained, but radical reactions become uneven during vulcanization
Solution Approach 1:
The metal salt containing hydration water is pre-incorporated into the rubber composition before vulcanization. This preliminary action ensures that water is already uniformly distributed throughout the rubber matrix, which then releases water gradually during vulcanization to maintain uniform radical reactions and consistent resilience throughout the golf ball core.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal salt provides continuous water supply throughout the vulcanization process through gradual release of hydration water. This continuous action ensures that radical reactions proceed uniformly throughout the rubber composition, maintaining consistent resilience and composition stability without the uneven reactions that occur with direct water addition.
3Reliability
If water is added to reduce spin rate, then spin rate decreases and distance increases, but water evaporates during molding causing durability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The metal salt containing hydration water acts as a cushioning reservoir that stores water before it is needed during vulcanization. This beforehand preparation ensures water is available when needed to reduce spin rate, while the controlled release mechanism prevents premature evaporation and associated durability problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition properties of hydration water in metal salts. The metal salt releases water through a controlled phase transition during vulcanization, ensuring water is supplied at the appropriate temperature and rate to reduce spin rate while preventing the uncontrolled evaporation that occurs with direct water addition.
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 use of a metal salt with hydration water enhances the durability and spin reduction of golf balls by maintaining consistent radical reactions and preventing water evaporation, resulting in improved performance and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a metal salt containing hydration water... ensuring uniform water supply and release during vulcanization
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball includes a core and a cover. The core is formed of a material molded under heat from a rubber composition. The rubber composition includes components (A) through (C). The components (A) through (C) are (A) a base rubber, (B) an organic peroxide, and (C) a metal salt containing hydration water.