Golf Ball Core Rubber Composition for Impact Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball core compositions face limitations in durability upon repeated impact, with existing technologies failing to adequately enhance both durability and spin controllability.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition for golf ball cores incorporating a conjugated diene polymer, a copolymer of a conjugated diene compound and a non-conjugated olefin, and an organic peroxide, which creates a crosslinked structure that improves durability by dissipating energy and regenerating microcrystals upon impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rubber compositions are used in golf ball cores, then basic golf ball properties are maintained, but durability to cracking on repeated impact is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite rubber composition comprising polybutadiene rubber (conjugated diene polymer) and ethylene-propylene rubber (copolymer of conjugated diene compound and non-conjugated olefin) in specific proportions (70-95 wt% polybutadiene and 5-30 wt% ethylene-propylene rubber). This composite material structure combines the high rebound properties of polybutadiene with the durability and crack resistance of ethylene-propylene rubber, achieving both durability and spin controllability simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the compositional parameters by controlling the weight ratio of polybutadiene to ethylene-propylene rubber within specific ranges (70-95 wt% and 5-30 wt% respectively). By adjusting these parameter ranges, the invention achieves the optimal balance between durability (improved by ethylene-propylene rubber) and spin properties (maintained by polybutadiene content), resolving the technical contradiction
2Reliability
If resin ingredients are added to improve core durability, then durability is enhanced, but the desired level of durability to impact is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter from adding resin additives to using a specific rubber-rubber composite system. The ethylene-propylene rubber content is controlled at 5-30 wt% to provide sufficient impact durability without requiring resin ingredients, thereby achieving both core durability and impact strength simultaneously through compositional optimization rather than additive enhancement
3Adaptability or versatility
If core hardness is adjusted to optimize spin properties, then spin controllability is improved, but durability to repeated impact deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a composite rubber system where each component contributes different properties: polybutadiene provides high rebound and spin characteristics, while ethylene-propylene rubber provides durability and crack resistance. The localized contribution of each material component allows the core to simultaneously achieve optimized spin properties and improved durability without compromising either aspect
Solution Approach 2:
The composite rubber composition enables the core to exhibit different functional characteristics in different aspects: spin properties are dominated by the polybutadiene component while durability is enhanced by the ethylene-propylene rubber component. This material composite approach allows simultaneous optimization of both spin controllability and impact durability that cannot be achieved with single-material systems
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 solution significantly enhances the durability of golf ball cores while maintaining spin controllability and flight performance, preventing core failure and improving durability through efficient energy dissipation and microcrystal regeneration.
Implementation Method 1
an organic peroxide, the hardness difference in the core internal hardness profile can be set at or above a given level while maintaining the desired core hardness and the durability to cracking on repeated impact is excellent
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber composition for a golf ball core includes (a) a conjugated diene polymer, (b) a copolymer of a conjugated diene compound and a non-conjugated olefin, and (c) an organic peroxide. Golf balls having at least one core layer formed of such a rubber composition and a cover of one or more layers encasing the core exhibit improved durability to cracking on repeated impact while maintaining the basic properties required of golf balls, such as flight and spin controllability on approach shots.