Golf Ball Outer Core Using Polyamide and Fatty Acid Salt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf ball core materials are too hard, leading to a harsh feel and reduced control for golfers, particularly when making approach shots with irons near the green, as they tend to have low initial spin and less comfortable touch.
Innovation Solution
A dual-core golf ball design featuring an inner core made of rubber and an outer core layer composed of a polyamide composition, which includes 40-99% transparent polyamide and 1-60% fatty acid salt, providing a softer and more resilient core that enhances feel and spin control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If hard ionomer resin is used as core material, then initial velocity and flight distance are improved, but feel and spin control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The core is divided into multiple layers with different materials: an inner core layer made of hard ionomer resin for velocity, and an outer core layer made of softer polyamide composition for spin control. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function, resolving the contradiction between speed and control.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the core have different material properties: the inner core has high hardness for initial velocity, while the outer core has lower hardness for spin control. This local differentiation of material quality enables the ball to achieve both high speed and good control simultaneously.
2Strength
If hard ionomer resin is used as core material, then durability and toughness are improved, but feel and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The core is segmented into an inner hard layer for toughness and an outer softer layer for feel. The inner core maintains durability while the outer core provides comfort, resolving the contradiction between strength and feel.
Solution Approach 2:
The core uses a composite structure combining ionomer resin and polyamide composition. This composite material approach allows the ball to exhibit both the toughness of hard materials and the softness of flexible materials, simultaneously achieving durability and comfort.
3Ease of operation
If softer polyamide composition is used in outer core layer, then feel and spin control are improved, but initial velocity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The core is divided into functional layers where the inner hard core generates initial velocity and the outer softer layer provides spin control. This segmentation ensures that the softer polyamide composition does not reduce initial velocity because the hard inner core compensates for it.
4Ease of operation
If transparent polyamide with plasticizer is used, then feel and resilience are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polyamide composition's properties are adjusted by adding plasticizers and modifying molecular weight to achieve the desired balance of feel and resilience. These parameter changes are made during material formulation, which is integrated into the existing manufacturing process, minimizing additional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made of a polyamide composition containing a transparent polyamide polymer and fatty acid salt are provided. In one preferred version, the polyamide composition consists essentially of a blend of 40 to 99% by weight transparent polyamide and 1 to 60% by weight fatty acid salt. The golf ball includes a core having at least one layer and a cover having at least one layer. The polyamide composition may be used to form any core, cover, or other layer in the golf ball. The polyamide compositions have a good combination of properties including Coefficient of Restitution (COR) and compression.