# US 10,441,850 B1 · Graphene core for a golf ball with a soft cover

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- Number: US 10,441,850 B1
- Document ID: US10441850B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/376,203
- Filed: 2019-04-05
- Published: 2019-10-03
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-28
- Assignees: Callaway Golf Company
- Applicants: Callaway Golf Company
- Inventors: Petra Petrich; David Bartels; Hong G. Jeon; Carl Brown
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441850B1

## CPC

- A63B 37/0051: {Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details}
- A63B 37/0031: {Hardness}
- A63B 37/0033: {Thickness}
- A63B 37/0043: {Hardness}
- A63B 37/0045: {Thickness}
- A63B 37/0065: {Deflection or compression}
- A63B 37/0069: {Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness}
- A63B 37/0074: {Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core}
- A63B 37/0075: {Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core}
- A63B 37/0076: {Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers}
- A63B 37/0092: {Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers}
- C01B 32/182: Graphene
- C08F 36/06: Butadiene
- C08K 3/042: {Graphene or derivatives, e.g. graphene oxides}
- C08L 23/0876: Salts thereof, i.e. ionomers
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)

## Abstract

A golf ball with a core comprising polybutadiene and graphene, and a soft cover is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a dual core with an outer core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. The soft cover is preferably composed of a highly neutralized polymer, a first ionomer, a second ionomer, and a paraloid impact modifier.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A golf ball comprising:
an inner core comprising a polybutadiene material;
an outer core comprising polybutadiene material and a graphene material; and
a cover layer disposed over the outer core, the cover layer comprising 5 to 45 wt % of a highly neutralized polymer, 5 to 45 wt % of a first ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a second ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a third ionomer, 5 to 30 wt % of a masterbatch comprising from 15 to 40 wt % of an impact modifier, and 1 to 10 wt % of a color masterbatch;
wherein the golf ball has a diameter of at least 1.68 inches, a mass lower than 45.93 grams, and a COR of at least 0.790.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material ranges from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the outer core.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material ranges from 0.6 to 1.5 weight percent of the outer core.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the impact modifier is at least one of methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene polymer (MBS) impact-property modifiers for poly(vinyl chloride), and acrylic/methacrylic core-shell modifiers for polycarbonate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 400 m2/g to 800 m2/g.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the cover layer has a Shore D hardness ranging from 35 to 60.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the outer core has a tensile modulus ranging from 8 MPa to 10 MPa.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 15 m2/g to 50 m2/g.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 300 m2/g to 400 m2/g.

### Claim 10

A golf ball comprising:
an inner core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material;
an outer core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material; and
a cover layer disposed over the outer core, the cover layer comprising 5 to 45 wt % of a highly neutralized polymer, 5 to 45 wt % of a first ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a second ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a third ionomer, 5 to 30 wt % of a masterbatch comprising from 15 to 40 wt % of an impact modifier, and 1 to 10 wt % of a color masterbatch;
wherein the golf ball has a diameter of at least 1.68 inches, a mass lower than 45.93 grams, and a COR of at least 0.790.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the impact modifier is at least one of methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene polymer (MBS) impact-property modifiers for poly(vinyl chloride), and acrylic/methacrylic core-shell modifiers for polycarbonate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the graphene material in the outer core ranges from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the outer core, and wherein the graphene material in the inner core ranges from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the inner core.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the outer core has a tensile modulus ranging from 8 MPa to 10 MPa.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 15 m2/g to 50 m2/g.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 300 m2/g to 400 m2/g.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the graphene material has a surface area ranging from 400 m2/g to 800 m2/g.

### Claim 17

A golf ball comprising:
an inner core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material;
an outer core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material;
a mantle layer; and
a cover layer disposed over the outer core, the cover layer comprising 5 to 45 wt % of a highly neutralized polymer, 5 to 45 wt % of a first ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a second ionomer, 5 to 45 wt % of a third ionomer, 5 to 30 wt % of a masterbatch comprising from 15 to 40 wt % of an impact modifier, and 1 to 10 wt % of a color masterbatch;
wherein the cover layer has a Shore D hardness ranging from 35 to 60;
wherein the golf ball has a diameter of at least 1.68 inches, a mass lower than 45.93 grams, and a COR of at least 0.790.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The golf ball according to claim 17 wherein the impact modifier is at least one of methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene polymer (MBS) impact-property modifiers for poly(vinyl chloride), and acrylic/methacrylic core-shell modifiers for polycarbonate.