Polyurethane material for two and three piece golf balls
OwnerPijush K. Dewanjee, Michael Tzivanisinventors
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Abstract
A novel composition useful for golf ball covers that comprises a blend of a diisocyanate/polyol polyurethane prepolymer with a curing agent comprising a blend of slow-reacting diamine with a fast-reacting diamine such as dimethylthio 2,4-toluenediamine and diethyl 2,4-toluenediamine, respectively. A golf ball cover made with this composition exhibits the characteristic feel and playability of a balata cover with superior durability characteristics (cut and shear resistance) which exceed those of a balata or ionomer cover.
Claims20
A composition suitable for manufacturing and molding a golf ball cover comprising:
- (a) a polyurethane prepolymer comprising:
- (1) a diisocyanate;
- and,
- (2) a polyol;
- and,
- (b) a curing agent blend comprising:
- (1) a first curative, wherein said first curative is selected from the group consisting of polyols, sterically hindered diamines, and electronically hindered diamines;
- and,
- (2) a fast-reacting diamine, wherein the diamine has less hindrance than the hindered diamines.
A composition suitable for manufacturing and molding a golf ball cover comprising:
- (a) a one-shot polyurethane comprising:
- (1) a diisocyanate;
- and,
- (2) a polyol;
- and,
- (b) a curing agent comprising:
- (1) a hindered diamine;
- and,
- (2) an unhindered diamine.
A method of making a golf ball comprising:
- providing a prepolymer comprised of a diisocyanate and a polyol and heating the prepolymer;
- providing a curative comprised of a slow-reacting component selected from the group consisting of a hindered diamine and a polyol, and mixed with an unhindered fast diamine at room temperature;
- mixing the prepolymer with the curative in a mixer to create a polymer mixture;
- pouring the polymer mixture into a first mold half and allowing the mixture to reach a semi-gelled state;
- lowering a golf ball core into the first mold half such that the golf ball core is suspended in the semi-gelled polymer mixture;
- pouring the polymer mixture into a second mold half and allowing the mixture to reach a semi-gelled state;
- inverting the first mold half and mating it to the second mold half;
- heating the mated first and second mold halves containing the polymer mixture and golf ball core;
- cooling the mated first and second mold halves containing the polymer mixture and golf ball core;
- and,
- removing the molded golf ball from the first and second mold halves and allowing the golf ball to cure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.