Water-Releasing Agent Curing for Golf Ball Core Hardness Gradients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball cores exhibit a limited hardness gradient, which restricts the ability to further reduce spin rate while maintaining impact durability and resilience.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a water-releasing agent into the core rubber formulation during the curing process to enhance the hardness gradient, creating a 'positive' gradient where the outer surface is harder than the center, thereby reducing spin rate and maintaining durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional polybutadiene-based core with limited hardness gradient is used, then the core provides basic spin control and durability, but the spin rate cannot be further reduced while maintaining impact durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct hardness zones within the core - a harder outer region (80-100 Shore C) and a softer inner region (40-60 Shore C). This spatial variation in material properties allows the outer hard region to control spin rate while the inner soft region maintains impact durability and energy absorption, resolving the contradiction between spin control and durability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining polybutadiene rubber with sulfur and additional crosslinking agents in specific proportions. This composite formulation creates the desired hardness gradient structure where different regions have different effective compositions and crosslinking densities, enabling simultaneous optimization of spin control and impact resistance
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the hardness gradient is increased to further reduce spin rate, then spin control improves, but impact durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying local quality - creating a hardness gradient where the outer region (within 0.5-2mm of surface) has high hardness (80-100 Shore C) for spin control, while the inner region maintains lower hardness (40-60 Shore C) for impact durability. This spatial differentiation allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the sulfur content (0.5-2.0 parts per hundred rubber) and crosslinking agent proportions, along with specific curing temperature (100-150°C) and time (30-60 minutes), to achieve the desired hardness gradient. These parameter optimizations enable the hardness gradient to reach 40-60 Shore C difference while maintaining overall core integrity and impact resistance
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 increased hardness gradient results in reduced spin rate and sustained durability of the golf ball, enhancing performance for various golfers.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a water-releasing agent into the core rubber formulation during the curing process to enhance the hardness gradient
Implementation Method 2
the solid core is formed from a rubber composition cured under heat
Data Source
AI summary
Golf balls having cores with increased hardness gradients are provided. The cores have an increased “positive” hardness gradient (or a “hard-to-soft” hardness) where the outer surface of the core is harder than the center. The increased positive hardness gradient can be achieved by introducing a water-releasing agent into the core rubber formulation during the curing process. The resulting golf balls have reduced spin and sufficient impact durability.