Polyurethane Golf Ball Covers Using Isocyanate Blends
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf ball cover materials made from polyurethane and polyurea compositions face challenges with light stability, sacrificing mechanical properties like tensile strength and cut/tear-resistance when exposed to UV light, and require additional stabilizers to maintain appearance.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball cover material is developed using a blend of isophorone diisocyanate, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate, and other aliphatic isocyanates with specific NCO functionality, combined with polyamine compounds and chain-extenders, to create a polyurethane or polyurea hybrid composition that enhances durability, toughness, and thermal stability while maintaining light stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional polyurethane and polyurea compositions are used for golf ball covers, then the covers provide desirable hardness and protection, but they sacrifice light stability and mechanical properties when exposed to UV light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the polyurethane and polyurea formulations by incorporating specific stabilizer packages including UV absorbers, hindered amine light stabilizers, and antioxidants in optimized concentrations. This chemical parameter modification enables the cover material to maintain both mechanical strength and light stability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining polyurethane and polyurea base polymers with multiple stabilizing agents (UV absorbers, HALS, antioxidants) to form a multi-component composition. This composite approach allows the material to exhibit both the desired mechanical properties from the polymer matrix and the light stability from the integrated stabilizer system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional UV stabilizers are added to maintain appearance, then light stability improves, but the complexity of the composition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple stabilizing functions into a single integrated composition formulation. By combining UV absorbers, hindered amine light stabilizers, and antioxidants into one unified polyurethane/polyurea composition system, the patent achieves comprehensive light stability protection without requiring separate stabilization systems or complex multi-layer structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional composition where the stabilizer package serves multiple protective roles simultaneously: UV absorption, free radical scavenging, and oxidation prevention. This universal stabilizer system addresses multiple degradation mechanisms in one integrated solution, reducing overall composition complexity despite the multiple functions provided.
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 cover material exhibits improved durability, toughness, cut/shear-resistance, thermal-stability, and light-stability, maintaining mechanical integrity and appearance without the need for additional UV stabilizers.
Implementation Method 1
the reaction of: i) a blend of two or more of: isophorone diisocyanate ('IPDI'), 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate ('HDI'), 4,4'-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate ('H12MDI'), 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (4,4'-MDI), toluene diisocyanate ('TDI'), and homopolymers and copolymers
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball having a cover material made from a polyurethane or polyurethane/urea hybrid composition is provided. The polyurethane or polyurethane/urea composition is produced by the reaction of an isocyanate blend having an average NCO functionality in the range of 2.05 to 2.35, a polyamine compound, and amine or hydroxyl chain-extender. The resulting cover material has many advantages including improved thermal-stability, durability, toughness, and cut/tear-resistance. The preferred isocyanates in the blend include isophorone diisocyanate (“IPDI”); 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (“HDI”); 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (“H12MDI”); 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (4,4′MDI); toluene diisocyanate (“TDI”); and homopolymers and copolymers thereof.