# US 10,441,849 B2 · Golf ball incorporating at least one layer of neutralized acid polymer composition containing low molecular weight acid wax(es) as sole acid polymer component and low molecular weight non-acid wax(es) in the non-acid polymer component

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- Number: US 10,441,849 B2
- Document ID: US10441849B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/139,290
- Filed: 2018-09-24
- Published: 2019-01-24
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-31
- Assignees: Acushnet Company
- Applicants: Acushnet Company
- Inventors: David A. Bulpett; Robert Blink; Michael J. Sullivan; Brian Comeau; Mark L. Binette
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441849B2

## CPC

- A63B 37/0039: {characterised by the material}
- A63B 37/0024: {Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane}
- A63B 37/0036: {Melt flow rate [MFR]}
- A63B 37/0048: {Melt flow rate [MFR]}
- A63B 37/0051: {Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details}
- A63B 37/006: {Physical properties}
- A63B 37/0078: {Coefficient of restitution}
- A63B 37/0087: {Deflection or compression}
- A63B 37/0092: {Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers}
- C08L 23/0869: with unsaturated acids, e.g. [meth]acrylic acid; with unsaturated esters, e.g. [meth]acrylic acid esters
- C08L 23/0876: Salts thereof, i.e. ionomers
- C08L 33/02: Homopolymers or copolymers of acids; Metal or ammonium salts thereof
- C08L 33/08: Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylic acid esters
- A63B 37/0045: {Thickness}
- A63B 37/008: {Diameter}
- A63B 37/0096: {Spin rate}
- C08L 2205/025: containing two or more polymers of the same hierarchy C08L, and differing only in parameters such as density, comonomer content, molecular weight, structure
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)

## Abstract

Golf ball comprising layer(s) comprised of neutralized acid polymer composition consisting of mixture of: (a) low molecular weight acid-containing wax(es); (b) non-acid polymer(s) including at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax such as high density oxidized polyethylene homopolymers; ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene homopolymers; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; high density oxidized homopolymers; oxidized copolymers; polyethylene micronized waxes; polytetrafluoroethylene micronized waxes; emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; non-emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; and/or chemically modified low molecular weight non-acid waxes; and (c) organic acid(s) or salt thereof. Molecular weight of each low molecular weight acid-containing wax is about 500 to 7000, or up to 30,000. Interactions between components (a), (b), and (c) advantageously produce layer of ionomeric material having heat stability, processability, and well-retained durability, adhesion, CoR, compression and targeted feel without need for blending high and low molecular weight acid-containing polymer(s).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A golf ball comprising at least one layer consisting of a neutralized acid polymer composition consisting of a mixture of: (a) at least one low molecular weight acid-containing wax; (b) at least one non-acid-polymer, of which at least one is a low molecular weight non-acid wax; and (c) at least one organic acid or salt thereof;
wherein each low molecular weight acid-containing wax has a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 30,000;
wherein the mixture contains at least 70 percent of neutralized acid groups; and
wherein the mixture has a melt flow index of at least 0.5 g/10 min.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the low molecular weight non-acid wax is selected from the group consisting of: high density oxidized polyethylene homopolymers; ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene homopolymers; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; high density oxidized homopolymers; oxidized copolymers; polyethylene micronized waxes; polytetrafluoroethylene micronized waxes; emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; non-emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; chemically modified low molecular weight non-acid waxes, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax is included in a blend of non-acid-polymers in an amount of at least 50 wt. % based on the total weight of the blend.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax is included in a blend of non-acid-polymers in an amount of less than 50 wt. % based on the total weight of the blend.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax is included in the blend in an amount of from about 10 wt. % to 50 wt. % based on the total weight of the blend.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax is included in the mixture in an amount of no greater than 35 wt. % based on the total weight of the mixture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax is included in the mixture in an amount of from about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % based on the total weight of the mixture.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein component (a) is included in an amount of 5 to 95 parts of each 100 parts of components (a) and (b) combined.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The golf ball of claim 8, wherein component (b) is included in an amount of from about 5 to 95 parts of each 100 parts of components (a) and (b) combined.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The golf ball of claim 9, wherein component (c) is included in an amount of from 5 to 100 parts per 100 parts of components (a) and (b) combined.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The golf ball of claim 10, wherein each low molecular weight acid-containing wax has a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 7,000.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The golf ball of claim 11, wherein component (a) is included in the mixture in an amount of about 70-80 wt % of each 100 wt % of components (a) and (b) combined, component (b) is included in the mixture in an amount of about 20-30 wt % of each 100 wt % of components (a) and (b) combined, and component (c) is included in the mixture in an amount of about 35-45 wt % per 100 wt % of components (a) and (b) combined.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the mixture contains at least 80 percent of neutralized acid groups.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the mixture contains at least 90 percent of neutralized acid groups.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the mixture contains 100 percent of neutralized acid groups.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the mixture contains an amount of a cation source that is greater than an amount sufficient to neutralize about 100% of all acid groups present.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the at least one organic acid or salt thereof is a fatty acid or fatty acid salt, or blends thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The golf ball of claim 17, wherein the at least one organic acid or salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of Magnesium Oleate, Magnesium Stearate, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the low molecular weight acid-containing wax is selected from the group consisting of ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, ethylene-meth acrylic acid copolymers, oxidized polyethylene, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least one non-acid polymer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene acrylate copolymers; polyether esters; polyether amines; or combinations thereof.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the melt flow index of the mixture is greater than 1.0 g/10 min.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the melt flow index of the mixture is from about 1.0 g/10 min to about 4 g/10 min.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball has a CoR of from about 0.740 to about 0.840.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball has a compression of from about 40 to about 135.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein each low molecular weight acid-containing wax has a Brookfield viscosity of about 1100 cps or less at 140° C. and a density of less than 0.96 g/cc.