US 2004/0106468 A1 · Process and composition for making multi-layer golf balls using rigid uncrosslinked shells

Abstract

A multi-layer golf ball and methods for preparing a portion thereof including a core having at least one core layer, a mantle having at least one layer including an amount of reinforcing polymer component and a resilient polymer component disposed concentrically adjacent the core, and at least one cover layer disposed concentrically adjacent the mantle, wherein the layer of the mantle is sufficiently rigid to inhibit the resilient polymer component from substantially altering shape prior to crosslinking. The invention also includes an elastomeric composition including a polybutadiene having a high molecular weight average and a predominantly 1,4-cis content, a free-radical initiator, and a reinforcing polymer component having a sufficiently low viscosity at a mixing temperature to permit substantially uniform dispersion of the polymer component with the polybutadiene and having a crystalline melting point sufficiently low to permit mixing while avoiding substantial crosslinking.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A method of forming at least a portion of a golf ball core which comprises:

mixing a resilient polymer component, a free-radical initiator, a crosslinking agent, and a reinforcing polymer component to provide an uncrosslinked first mixture having a rigidity as determined by a flexural modulus greater than about 3.5 MPa;
forming the first mixture into a plurality of shells in a desired shape, wherein the reinforcing polymer component imparts sufficient rigidity to the shells to maintain the desired shape until the first mixture is crosslinked;
providing a center;
assembling at least two shells concentrically about the center to form a first mantle layer, wherein the first mantle layer and center together form a ball core;
and
applying sufficient heat and pressure to the core for a time sufficient to at least partially crosslink the first mixture in the shells, thereby curing at least a portion of the golf ball core.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process and composition for making multi-layer golf balls using rigid uncrosslinked shells

Life of this patent

Process and composition for making multi-layer golf balls using rigid uncrosslinked shells

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33