Golf ball comprising fluoropolymer and method of making same

A golf ball having at least an outer surface formed of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic materials and thermosetting materials, wherein the improvement comprises applying upon said outer surface at least one layer of a coating material, said coating material comprising at least one functionalized fluoropolymer, wherein said fluoropolymer has the formula ##STR13## in which a is a number from 1 to 100;

• b is a number from 99 to 1;
• R.sub.1 -R.sub.7 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, alkyl, and aryl;
• and R.sub.8 is H, F, or a moiety of the formula ##STR14## in which m is a number from 1 to 18:
• and Z is selected from the group consisting of SO.sub.2 F, SO.sub.3 H, SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.v+, COF, CO.sub.2 H, and CO.sub.2.sup.- M.sup.v+, wherein v is the valence of M and M is a cation selected from Group I, Ia, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, and transition elements.

A golf ball having an outer surface, said golf ball having at least one coating layer deposited upon said outer surface, said outer surface formed of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic materials and thermosetting materials, wherein at least said outer surface and said coating layer comprise at least one functionalized fluoropolymer, wherein said fluoropolymer has the formula ##STR15## in which a is a number from 1 to 100;

• b is a number from 99 to 1;
• R.sub.1 -R.sub.7 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, alkyl, and aryl;
• and R.sub.8 is H, F, or a moiety of the formula ##STR16## in which m is a number from 1 to 18;
• and Z is selected from the group consisting of SO.sub.2 F, SO.sub.3 H, SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.v+, COF, CO.sub.2 H, and CO.sub.2.sup.- M.sup.v+, wherein v is the valence of M and M is a cation selected from Group I, Ia, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, and transition elements.

A method of enhancing the cut and abrasion resistance of a golf ball comprising the steps of:

• a) forming a golf ball core;
• and
• b) forming a cover around said core by molding a cover stock material comprising a fluoropolymer about said core, wherein said fluoropolymer has the formula ##STR21## in which a is a number from 1 to 100;
• b is a number from 99 to 1;
• R.sub.1 -R.sub.7 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, alkyl, and aryl;
• and R.sub.8 is H, F, or a moiety of the formula ##STR22## in which m is a number from 1 to 18;
• and Z is selected from the group consisting of SO.sub.2 F, SO.sub.3 H, SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.v+, COF, CO.sub.2 H, and CO.sub.2.sup.- M.sup.v+, wherein v is the valence of M and M is a cation selected from Group I, Ia, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, and transition elements.

A method of enhancing the cut resistance, abrasion resistance, and durability of a golf ball which comprises forming a golf ball and applying to the golf ball a coating composition comprising a fluoropolymer, wherein said fluoropolymer has the formula ##STR25## in which a is a number from 1 to 100;

• b is a number from 99 to 1;
• R.sub.1 -R.sub.7 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, alkyl, and aryl;
• and R.sub.8 is H, F, or a moiety of the formula ##STR26## in which m is a number from 1 to 18:
• and Z is selected from the group consisting of SO.sub.2 F, SO.sub.3 H, SO.sub.3.sup.- M.sup.v+, COF, CO.sub.2 H, and CO.sub.2.sup.- M.sup.v+, wherein v is the valence of M and M is a cation selected from Group I, Ia, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, and transition elements.