Golf Ball Cover-Casing Crosslinking for Delamination Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern multi-piece golf balls suffer from low adhesion strength between layers, leading to delamination under shear forces, which affects both appearance and performance.
Innovation Solution
The use of casing and cover compositions that include specific ionomers and adhesion promoters, such as organic titanates, to create crosslinks between the casing and cover layers, enhancing their adhesion and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional multi-piece golf ball construction is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but adhesion strength between layers is insufficient leading to delamination
Solution Approach 1:
An adhesion promoter layer is introduced as an intermediary between the casing layer and cover layer. This intermediate layer contains adhesion promoters that chemically bond to both the casing layer and cover layer, creating strong interlayer adhesion without requiring complex construction changes to the golf ball itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The golf ball construction utilizes composite materials by combining different polymer layers (casing layer, adhesion promoter layer, and cover layer) with distinct chemical and physical properties. Each layer is optimized for its specific function, with the adhesion promoter layer serving as a chemical bridge between the other layers.
2Strength
If adhesion promoters are applied via spray or dip with drying and post cure steps, then adhesion strength increases, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesion promoter is pre-incorporated into the cover layer material before the cover layer is applied to the casing layer. This preliminary incorporation eliminates the need for separate application, drying, and post-cure steps that would otherwise be required, significantly reducing manufacturing time while maintaining strong adhesion.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesion promoter function is merged with the cover layer material itself. Instead of being a separate applied coating requiring independent processing steps, the adhesion promoter becomes an integral component of the cover layer, combining multiple functions into a single material application.
3Strength
If adhesion promoters are applied via dip or spray with rinsing and drying steps, then adhesion strength increases, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesion promoter is pre-mixed into the cover layer material before application, eliminating the need for separate dipping or spraying operations followed by rinsing and drying. This preliminary preparation simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of discrete steps required.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex multi-step adhesion promoter application process (dipping/spraying, rinsing, drying, curing) is extracted and replaced with a single material application step. The adhesion promoter functionality is taken out from being a separate process and integrated into the material composition itself.
4Strength
If primer treatment is applied to increase adhesion, then adhesion strength increases, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesion promoter functionality is merged into the cover layer material itself, eliminating the need for separate primer treatments. This consolidation reduces material costs by combining multiple functions into a single material rather than requiring separate primer and cover layer materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate primer treatment step and its associated materials are extracted from the manufacturing process. The adhesion promoter functionality is taken out from being a separate treatment and integrated into the cover layer material, reducing overall material requirements and cost.
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 compositions result in golf balls with improved shear durability and increased adhesion strength, reducing delamination and maintaining performance under high-angle club strikes.
Implementation Method 1
the cover and casing layer are crosslinked by one or more of the following linkage: wherein R1 is a first carbon chain in the casing layer and R2 is a second carbon chain in the cover
Implementation Method 2
the adhesion promoter includes an organic titanate or inorganic titanate
Data Source
AI summary
Casing compositions including carboxyl groups, cover compositions including hydroxyl groups and an adhesion promoter capable of crosslinking carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, and golf balls made from such compositions that have crosslinks between carboxyl groups in the casing composition and hydroxyl groups in the cover composition. The type and concentration of the components in the casing and cover compositions, including the adhesion promoter, affect the adhesion between golf balls having components made from such compositions and, thus, can be used to produce a golf ball having increased durability.