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US 8,784,238 B2Granted
Highly neutralized polymeric compositions for golf ball layers
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorsMurali Rajagopalan, Michael J. Sullivan, Pamela V. Arnold
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Compositions for golf balls including modified highly neutralized polymeric compositions that have improved processability including improved melt flow index and improved performance characteristics when included in a layer of a golf ball. In addition, the compositions of the invention have less moisture transmission and higher flexural modulus than non-modified highly neutralized polymers.
Claims21
A golf ball comprising:
- a core having a diameter of about 1.50 inches to about 1.62 inches and a compression of about 120 atti or less formed of a composition comprising:
- a copolymer of ethylene and an α, β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, wherein greater than about 70 percent of the acid groups in the copolymer are neutralized with a cation;
- and
- a flow modifier present in an amount of 50 parts per hundred to 75 parts per hundred based on a hundred parts of the copolymer, wherein the flow modifier comprises a fatty acid salt, wherein the composition has a melt flow index of at least 10.3 g/10 min or greater at 190° C. using a 2160 gram weight;
- wherein the fatty acid salt comprises erucic acid, linoleic acid or dimerized derivatives thereof and a cation selected from the group consisting of barium, lithium, sodium, zinc, bismuth, chromium, cobalt, copper, potassium, strontium, titanium, tungsten, magnesium, cesium, iron, nickel, silver, aluminum, tin, and calcium;
- and
- wherein the composition has a Shore D hardness of about 40 to about 48 and a flexural modulus of about 23,300 psi to about 29,500 psi;
- a cover having a thickness of about 0.03 to about 0.09 inches.
5 more elements
A golf ball comprising:
- a core having a diameter of about 1.50 inches to about 1.60 inches;
- an intermediate layer having a thickness of about 0.015 inches to about 0.06 inches;
- and
- a cover having a thickness of about 0.02 to about 0.045 inches, wherein at least one layer in the golf ball is formed from a composition comprising:
- a copolymer of ethylene and an α, β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, wherein greater than about 70 percent of the acid groups in the copolymer are neutralized with a cation;
- and
- a flow modifier present in an amount of 75 parts per hundred based on a hundred parts of the copolymer, wherein the flow modifier comprises a fatty acid salt;
- wherein the fatty acid salt comprises erucic acid, linoleic acid or dimerized derivatives thereof and a cation selected from the group consisting of barium, lithium, sodium, zinc, bismuth, chromium, cobalt, copper, potassium, strontium, titanium, tungsten, magnesium, cesium, iron, nickel, silver, aluminum, tin, and calcium;
- wherein the composition has a Shore D hardness of about 40 to about 48 and a flexural modulus of about 23,300 psi to about 29,500 psi.
6 more elements
A golf ball comprising:
- a core having a diameter of about 0.5 inches to about 1.30 inches;
- an outer core layer having a thickness of about 0.125 inches to about 0.5 inches;
- an inner cover layer disposed about the outer core layer having a thickness of about 0.015 inches to about 0.06 inches;
- and
- an outer cover layer disposed about the inner cover layer having a thickness of about 0.02 to about 0.045 inches, wherein the golf ball has a compression of about 50 to about 100 atti and a coefficient of restitution of at least about 0.805 at 125 ft/sec, and wherein at least one layer in the golf ball is formed from a composition comprising:
- a copolymer of ethylene, an α, β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, and an optional comonomer, wherein greater than about 70 percent of the acid groups in the copolymer are neutralized with a cation;
- and
- a flow modifier comprising a fatty acid salt, wherein the composition has a melt flow index of at least 10.3 g/10 min at 190° C. using a 2160 gram weight, wherein the composition has a flexural modulus of about 23,300 psi to about 29,500 psi, and wherein the composition has a Shore D hardness of about 40 to about 48;
- wherein the fatty acid salt comprises erucic acid, linoleic acid or dimerized derivatives thereof and a cation selected from the group consisting of barium, lithium, sodium, zinc, bismuth, chromium, cobalt, copper, potassium, strontium, titanium, tungsten, magnesium, cesium, iron, nickel, silver, aluminum, tin, and calcium.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.