Golf Ball Core with Chemically Attached Acrylate Salts
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing golf ball core materials, particularly those using crosslinked polybutadiene with sulfur compounds or peroxides, face inconsistencies in physical properties due to uneven dispersion of zinc diacrylate, affecting core compression and coefficient of restitution (COR).
Innovation Solution
Chemically attaching metal salts of acrylate to the polybutadiene main chain during synthesis, incorporating cations like Zn, Mg, and Ca, ensures consistent physical properties and enhances COR by varying synergistic effects, while reducing manufacturing costs through reduced kneading time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high loading of zinc diacrylate is used to increase core compression and COR, then the mechanical performance is improved, but the physical properties become inconsistent due to poor dispersion
Solution Approach 1:
Metal salts of acrylate are incorporated into the polybutadiene matrix during the polymerization process itself, before the final product is formed. This preliminary incorporation ensures uniform distribution of the metal salt throughout the matrix, eliminating the dispersion problems that occur when metal salt is added later as a separate component.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the polybutadiene polymerization process with the incorporation of metal salts of acrylate into a single integrated process. The metal salt becomes an integral part of the polymer matrix structure rather than a separate additive, ensuring homogeneous distribution while maintaining the desired mechanical properties.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional mixing methods are used to disperse metal salt, then the process is simple, but the dispersion is uneven affecting performance consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The metal salt of acrylate is incorporated during the polymerization reaction itself, before the polybutadiene matrix is fully formed. This timing allows the metal salt to be uniformly distributed throughout the matrix as it forms, eliminating the need for subsequent intensive mixing operations to achieve uniform dispersion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical mixing methods with a chemical incorporation method. Instead of using mechanical energy to disperse metal salt particles throughout the matrix, the metal salt is chemically incorporated during polymerization, achieving uniform distribution through molecular-level incorporation rather than mechanical force.
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 approach results in more consistent golf ball core properties, improved COR, and lower manufacturing costs by integrating metal salts of acrylate into the polybutadiene matrix, optimizing core performance and production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
various metal salts of acrylate are chemically attached to the main chain of polybutadiene during the synthesizing process
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball with a center core comprising 1,4 polybutadiene with a cis content more than 50% and containing a metal salt of acrylate, wherein the 1,4 polybutadiene has 5 to 60 weight percent of a metal salt of acrylate, is disclosed herein. The metal salt of acrylate is preferably selected from zinc, magnesium, sodium, and calcium.