# US 8,785,561 B2 · Polyalkenamer compositions and golf balls prepared therefrom

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- Number: US 8,785,561 B2
- Document ID: US8785561B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/415,522
- Filed: 2009-03-31
- Published: 2009-07-30
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2005-01-24
- Assignees: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
- Applicants: Hyun J. Kim; Hong G. Jeon
- Inventors: Hyun J. Kim; Hong G. Jeon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785561B2

## CPC

- A63B 37/0039: {characterised by the material}
- A63B 37/0003: {Golf balls}
- A63B 37/0059: {Ionomer}
- A63B 37/0076: {Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers}
- B29C 45/0001: {characterised by the choice of material}
- B32B 25/02: with fibres or particles {being present as additives in the layer}
- B32B 25/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 27/34: comprising polyamides
- C08K 5/14: Peroxides
- C08L 23/0876: Salts thereof, i.e. ionomers
- C08L 23/20: having four to nine carbon atoms
- C08L 45/00: Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having no unsaturated aliphatic radicals in side chain, and having one or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds in a carbocyclic or in a heterocyclic ring system; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers (of cyclic anhydrides or imides C08L35/00; of cyclic esters of polyfunctional acids C08L31/00)
- C08L 77/00: Compositions of polyamides obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic amide link in the main chain (of polyhydrazides C08L79/06; of polyamideimides or polyamide acids C08L79/08); Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
- C08L 77/12: Polyester-amides
- A63B 37/0024: {Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane}
- A63B 37/0051: {Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details}
- A63B 37/0054: {Substantially rigid, e.g. metal}
- A63B 37/0065: {Deflection or compression}
- A63B 37/0075: {Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core}
- B29L 2031/546: {Golf balls}
- B32B 2250/24: All layers being polymeric
- B32B 2264/10: Inorganic particles
- B32B 2274/00: Thermoplastic elastomer material
- B32B 2307/536: Hardness
- B32B 2307/558: Impact strength, toughness
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A golf ball that includes (a) a core comprising a center; (b) an outer cover layer; and (c) one or more intermediate layers; wherein at least one of the core, the outer cover layer, or the intermediate layer comprises a composition that includes (i) at least one polyalkenamer and at least one polyamide or (ii) at least one polyalkenamer. A method for making a golf ball comprising a core, one or more intermediate layers and an outer cover layer is also disclosed, wherein the method includes forming a blend comprising at least one polyalkenamer rubber and at least one polyamide; and injection molding the blend into a spherical mold to form the intermediate or outer cover layer. Also disclosed is a polymer composition that includes at least one polyalkenamer and at least one thermoplastic copolyamide elastomer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A golf ball comprising:
(a) a core comprising a center;
(b) an outer cover layer; and
(c) one or more intermediate layers;
wherein at least one intermediate layer is made from an injection moldable composition comprising a polyalkenamer, containing about 50 to about 99 percent of its double bonds in the trans-configuration, having a molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 300,000, and a degree of crystallization from about 5 to about 70%; and at least one crosslinking agent added in an amount such that said injection moldable composition has a viscosity of about 7598 Pa-sec to about 3,456 Pa-sec at a temperature of from about 75 to about 121 degree Celsius and about 10,000,000 Pa-sec to about 4,620,000 Pa-sec at a temperature of from about 181 to about 220 degree Celsius.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the polyalkenamer comprises a polyoctenamer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the at least one cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfur compounds, peroxides, azides, maleimides, and all combinations thereof, said cross-linking agent being present in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 5 parts by weight of the cross-linking agents per 100 parts by weight of the polyalkenamer; and the injection moldable composition further comprises;
i. at least one co-cross-linking agent comprising a zinc or magnesium salts of an unsaturated fatty acid having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, or
ii. at least one peptizer selected from the group consisting of an organic sulfur compound, a metal salt of an organic sulfur compound, a non-metal salt of an organic sulfur compound, or any and all combinations thereof; or
iii. at least one accelerator; or
iv. at least one filler; or
v. any and all combinations of i, ii, iii, iv, and v.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The golf ball of claim 3 wherein;
a. said accelerator is present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said polyalkenamer; and
b. said filler is selected from the group consisting of inorganic nanofillers, precipitated hydrated silica, limestone, clay, talc, asbestos, barytes, glass fibers, aramid fibers, mica, calcium metasilicate, barium sulfate, zinc sulfide, lithopone, silicates, silicon carbide, diatomaceous earth, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, barium carbonate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, barium sulfate, tungsten, steel, copper, cobalt, iron, metal alloys, tungsten carbide, metal oxides, metal stearates, other particulate carbonaceous materials, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the golf ball includes at least one intermediate layer comprising an ionomer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A The golf ball of claim 1 further comprising:
a. an outer intermediate layer comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of a unimodal ionomer, a bimodal ionomer, a modified unimodal ionomer, a modified bimodal ionomer and any and all combinations thereof; and
b. an outer cover layer comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoset polyurethane; a thermoset polyurea; a thermoplastic polyurethane; a thermoplastic polyurea; an ionomer; a styrenic block copolymer; an ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer; an ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate terpolymer; and any and all combinations thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the core comprises polybutadiene, and the outer cover layer comprises a thermoset polyurethane or a thermoplastic polyurethane.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the core comprises polybutadiene, and the outer cover layer comprises polyurethane.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball includes at least one intermediate layer comprising an ionomer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the core comprises polybutadiene, and the outer cover layer comprises polyurethane.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the injection moldable polyalkenamer rubber composition includes at least one peroxide cross-linking agent.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the polyalkenamer is the only rubber component present in the intermediate layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball has three intermediate layers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said at least one cross-linking agent comprises a mixture of two peroxides, one a peroxide having a first characteristic decomposition temperature less than 150° C., and the second a peroxide having a second characteristic decomposition temperature greater than 150° C.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The golf ball of claim 14, wherein the composition weight ratio of the peroxide having the first characteristic decomposition temperature less than 150° C. to the peroxide having the second characteristic decomposition temperature greater than 150° C. is from about 5:95 to about 95:5.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the composition weight ratio of the peroxide having the first characteristic decomposition temperature less than 150° C. to the peroxide having the second characteristic decomposition temperature greater than 150° C. is from about 10:90 to about 50:50.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The golf ball of claim 16 wherein the peroxide having the first characteristic decomposition temperature less than 150° C. is 1,1-bis-(t-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-tri-methylcyclohexane and the peroxide having the second characteristic decomposition temperature greater than 150° C. is 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-(t-butylperoxy)hexyne-3.