Golf Ball Core Nucleating Agent Resiliency Stiffness Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf ball cores that are designed to maximize resiliency and durability often become overly stiff, leading to a less natural feel and reduced spin control, making it difficult for players to control the ball's flight and placement.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition for golf ball cores that incorporates a benzenetrisamide nucleating agent, combined with base rubbers like polybutadiene and cross-linking agents, to achieve a balance between hardness and softness, enhancing resiliency while maintaining a soft feel and good spin control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional materials are used to increase core hardness for maximum resiliency, then COR and durability are improved, but the ball feels too stiff and spin control is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition parameters of the core material - specifically incorporating silane-modified polybutadiene rubber with 3-15 parts per 100 rubber parts of silane coupling agent and 0.1-5 parts of nucleating agent. These compositional parameter changes enable the core to achieve high resiliency while maintaining softness and spin control, resolving the contradiction between hardness and operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining silane-modified polybutadiene rubber with specific additives including silane coupling agents (such as γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane), nucleating agents (such as sodium benzoate or stearic acid), and crosslinking agents. This composite formulation creates a core material that simultaneously achieves high COR, durability, and soft feel with good spin control.
2Strength
If cross-linking density is increased to improve durability and impact strength, then core toughness is enhanced, but the ball becomes overly stiff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the cross-linking parameter by limiting the silane coupling agent content to 3-15 parts per 100 rubber parts and using specific crosslinking agents in controlled amounts. This parameter control ensures sufficient cross-linking for durability and impact strength while preventing excessive stiffness, maintaining the soft feel necessary for spin control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating different functional zones within the core material - the silane-modified polybutadiene provides the base rubber matrix with inherent elasticity, while the silane coupling agents and crosslinking agents create localized cross-linked regions that enhance durability and impact strength without making the entire core overly stiff.
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 resulting golf ball cores exhibit improved resiliency, durability, and impact strength with a soft feel and high spin control, allowing for longer distances and precise shot placement without the stiffness issues of traditional high-compression balls.
Implementation Method 1
The nucleating agent provides nucleating sites for the thermoplastic material to crystallize from the melt
Implementation Method 2
the nucleating agents help control the crystallization rate, crystal size, and other crystalline properties of the material
Data Source
AI summary
Golf balls containing at least one layer made from a rubber composition comprising a benzenetrisamide nucleating agent are provided. The rubber composition preferably contains a free-radical initiator agent, cross-linking agent, and fillers along with the base rubber and nucleating agent. Golf balls of various constructions may be made including two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece balls. The composition is used preferably to form a golf ball core having improved resiliency, durability, toughness, and impact strength.