Golf Ball Core Rubber Composition Hardness Gradient
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball core compositions struggle to achieve a large hardness difference within a single-layer core to reduce spin rate on full shots, which limits the distance traveled by the ball, while existing methods for adjusting core hardness are either complex or ineffective in modulating spin properties.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition for golf ball cores incorporating a base rubber, an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid or its metal salt, a crosslinking initiator, and a lower alcohol with a molecular weight of less than 200, which promotes decomposition of organic peroxide and creates a distinct crosslinked structure with a significant hardness difference between the core surface and center, reducing spin rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-layer rubber core is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the hardness difference between core surface and center is insufficient, resulting in high spin rate on full shots
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the rubber core by incorporating specific co-crosslinking agents (α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or metal salt) and lower alcohols (molecular weight <200) in controlled amounts. This chemical parameter modification enables the formation of a hardness gradient within the single-layer core, with the center being softer than the surface, thereby reducing spin rate on full shots while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates local quality differences within the single-layer core by generating a hardness gradient from center to surface. The center region has lower hardness due to the specific crosslinking chemistry promoted by the lower alcohol and co-crosslinking agent, while the surface maintains higher hardness. This local hardness variation reduces spin rate on full shots without requiring multiple core layers
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the hardness difference in core is enlarged, then the spin rate on full shots is reduced, but the core hardness becomes difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The invention precisely controls the hardness gradient by adjusting the amounts of specific compounding ingredients: co-crosslinking agent (α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or metal salt) and lower alcohol (molecular weight <200). By optimizing these chemical parameters, the invention achieves a controlled hardness difference between core center and surface, enabling spin rate reduction while maintaining predictable core hardness characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates feedback control in the form of specific compounding ratios and vulcanization conditions. The lower alcohol and co-crosslinking agent interact during vulcanization to produce a predictable hardness gradient pattern. This controlled chemical interaction provides feedback mechanism that ensures consistent hardness distribution and spin properties across production batches
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 rubber composition effectively achieves a large hardness difference in the core, resulting in low spin properties and improved flight performance of the golf ball by optimizing the crosslinking process and core structure.
Implementation Method 1
the lower alcohol promotes decomposition of organic peroxide and creates a distinct crosslinked structure
Implementation Method 2
creates a distinct crosslinked structure with a significant hardness difference between the core surface and center
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber composition for golf balls includes (a) a base rubber, (b) a co-crosslinking agent which is an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, (c) a crosslinking initiator, and (d) a lower alcohol having a molecular weight of less than 200. When the rubber composition is used in a golf ball having a core and a cover of one or more layers encasing the core, by setting the hardness difference in the core interior hardness profile to a large value while maintaining a desired core hardness, low spin properties can be manifested on golf ball shots, enabling the flight performance of the ball to be improved.