Silane Crosslinked OBC Golf Ball Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional golf ball covers, such as balata and its synthetic substitutes, offer excellent playability but lack durability, while ionomeric resins provide durability at the cost of playability characteristics like spin and feel.
Innovation Solution
The use of silane crosslinked olefin block copolymers (OBCs) combines improved durability, resilience, feel, spin, and UV stability by grafting vinyl-silanes onto OBCs and subsequent moisture crosslinking, creating a golf ball cover with a desirable combination of properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If balata or balata-containing cover compositions are used, then playability properties (spin, feel, workability) are improved, but durability (cut and abrasion resistance, fatigue endurance) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining balata or balata-containing cover compositions with ionomeric resins to create a multi-component cover structure. This composite approach allows the balata to provide playability properties (spin, feel, workability) while the ionomeric resin contributes durability (cut and abrasion resistance, fatigue endurance), resolving the contradiction between softness and toughness.
2Reliability
If ionomeric resins are used, then durability (toughness, cut and abrasion resistance) is improved, but playability properties (spin, feel, softness) deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by formulating the cover as a blend or multi-layer structure containing both ionomeric resin and balata or balata-containing materials. The ionomeric resin provides the desired durability and toughness, while the balata component restores the playability properties (spin, feel, softness) that were lost when using ionomeric resin alone.
3Ease of operation
If traditional balata covers are used, then soft feel and high spin are achieved, but the covers are easily cut and damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by creating a cover composition that integrates balata (providing soft feel and high spin) with ionomeric resin (providing cut and damage resistance). This composite structure allows the cover to maintain the desirable playability characteristics of traditional balata while significantly improving its strength and resistance to cutting and damage.
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 results in a golf ball cover with enhanced durability, resilience, and playability characteristics, maintaining the soft feel and high spin rates while improving scuff resistance and UV stability.
Implementation Method 1
The use of silane crosslinked olefin block copolymers (OBCs) combines improved durability, resilience, feel, spin, and UV stability by grafting vinyl-silanes onto OBCs and subsequent moisture crosslinking
Data Source
AI summary
A durable, injection moldable, thermoplastic elastomer that has the favorable resilience, feel, spin, barrier, and UV stability performance attributes is disclosed herein. An OBC grafted with silane provides a good cover shear durability (cut/tear/abrasion resistance). This invention combines the benefits of OBCs and silane crosslinking technology to yield a golf ball cover with a desirable combination of properties.