Cast elastomers with tunable material property development
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorsShawn Ricci, Michael Michalewich, Robert Blink
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Abstract
A method for manipulating a cure profile of an elastomer is disclosed. The method may include providing a formulation comprising an isocyanate prepolymer, a curative, a first catalyst, and a second catalyst. The method may further include curing the formulation by initiating a front-end cure reaction between the isocyanate prepolymer and the curative with the first catalyst. The method may further include decreasing a rate of a back-end cure reaction between the isocyanate prepolymer and the curative using the second catalyst, wherein the second catalyst does not impact the front-end cure reaction.
Claims18
A method for manipulating a cure profile of an elastomer, the method comprising:
- providing a formulation comprising an isocyanate prepolymer, a curative, a first catalyst, and a second catalyst, wherein the second catalyst acts as a negative catalyst;
- initiating a front-end cure reaction between the isocyanate prepolymer and the curative with the first catalyst;
- and
- decreasing a rate of a back-end cure reaction between the isocyanate prepolymer and the curative using the second catalyst while avoiding an impact on the front-end cure reaction.
A method of forming a golf ball cover, the method comprising:
- providing a golf ball comprising at least one core layer;
- providing a formulation comprising an isocyanate prepolymer, a curative, a first catalyst, and a second catalyst, wherein the second catalyst acts as a negative catalyst;
- casting a cover from the formulation about the golf ball, wherein the formulation cures by the first catalyst initiating a front-end cure reaction between the isocyanate prepolymer and the curative;
- demolding the golf ball once the front-end cure reaction is completed;
- and
- performing a manufacturing process step to the cover during a back-end cure reaction between the isocyanate prepolymer and the curative;
- wherein the second catalyst decreases a rate of the back-end cure reaction of the formulation while avoiding an impact on the front-end cure reaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.