Golf Ball Core Rubber Composition for Spin and Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball rubber compositions fail to achieve a satisfactory balance between spin properties and durability, and often result in chemical adherence issues during production, leading to reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition for golf balls comprising a base rubber, two different metal salts of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids, a fatty acid metal salt, and a crosslinking initiator, with specific compounding ratios of unsaturated metal carboxylates and fatty acid metal salts to create a core hardness profile with a large surface-to-center hardness difference and varying gradients, enhancing both durability and spin properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If zinc acrylate and zinc methacrylate are jointly compounded to enhance durability, then durability is improved, but spin properties become unsatisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the compounding ratios of different metal salts. Specifically, it sets the ratio of zinc methacrylate to zinc stearate between 20-115 wt% and the ratio of zinc acrylate to zinc stearate between 5-50 wt%, creating an optimal balance that produces a core hardness gradient of 15-35 JIS-C between center and surface, thereby achieving both durability and spin properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple metal salts (zinc acrylate, zinc methacrylate, and zinc stearate) with different chemical properties in specific proportions. This composite approach creates a synergistic effect where each component contributes different functions: zinc acrylate and zinc methacrylate enhance durability while zinc stearate controls surface hardness for spin performance
2Manufacturing precision
If co-crosslinking agents are added to adjust core hardness gradient, then spin properties are improved, but chemical adherence to mixing equipment increases, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces zinc stearate as an intermediary substance that mediates between the co-crosslinking agents (zinc acrylate and zinc methacrylate) and the base rubber. Zinc stearate acts as a processing aid that reduces chemical adherence to mixing equipment while still allowing the co-crosslinking agents to function properly in creating the desired hardness gradient
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of all metal salts to achieve the desired balance. By setting zinc stearate at 1-10 parts by weight per 100 parts of base rubber and controlling the ratios of other metal salts, it achieves optimal processing characteristics that prevent equipment adherence while maintaining spin properties
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 proposed rubber composition achieves a balance between durability and spin performance while maintaining high productivity by optimizing the core hardness profile, ensuring improved golf ball performance and reduced production issues.
Implementation Method 1
a rubber composition for golf balls which includes (A) a base rubber, (B) two different metal salts of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, (C) a metal salt in which at least one bonding site is a fatty acid of 9 or more carbon atoms, and (D) a crosslinking initiator
Implementation Method 2
the vulcanization temperature and time
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber composition for golf balls includes (A) a base rubber, (B) two different metal salts of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, (C) a metal salt in which at least one bonding site is a fatty acid of 9 or more carbon atoms, and (D) a crosslinking initiator. Letting component (B) include (B-1) an unsaturated metal carboxylate in a high compounding weight and (B-2) an unsaturated metal carboxylate in a low compounding weight, the ratio (B-2)/(B-1) is from 4 to 20 wt % and the ratio (B-2)/(C) is from 20 to 115 wt %. By using this rubber composition in a golf ball core, the golf ball can be endowed with both good spin properties and good durability on impact.