# US 9,433,826 B1 · Golf ball incorporating metallic film and method of making > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,826 B1 - Document ID: US9433826B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/670,550 - Filed: 2015-03-27 - Published: 2016-09-29 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-27 - Assignees: Acushnet Company - Applicants: Acushnet Company - Inventors: Brian Comeau; Matthew F. Hogge; Manjari Kuntimaddi; Peter L. Serdahl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433826B1 ## CPC - A63B 37/0039: {characterised by the material} - A63B 37/0033: {Thickness} - A63B 37/0045: {Thickness} - A63B 37/0076: {Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers} - A63B 37/14: Special surfaces {(A63B37/0004 takes precedence)} - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A golf ball of the invention comprises: a substrate layer formed from at least one of a thermoset or thermoplastic composition and having an outer surface that is pre-modified with a catalytic coating; a metallic film that is formed about the outer surface by contacting the catalytic coating with a mixture comprising: (i) at least one aqueous and/or organic aerosol comprising at least one metal in cationic/oxidizing form; and (ii) at least one reducing agent; and a subsequent layer surrounding the metallic film and formed from at least one of a thermoset composition or a thermoplastic composition. Alternatively, the outer surface is not pre-modified. The subsequent layer may be formed about the metallic film or in some embodiments may surround a coating layer that is disposed between the metallic film and the subsequent layer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A golf ball comprising: a substrate layer formed from at least one of a thermoset or thermoplastic composition and having an outer surface that is modified with a catalytic coating; and a metallic film that is formed about the outer surface by contacting the catalytic coating with a mixture M1 comprising: (i) at least one aqueous and/or organic aerosol comprising at least one metal in cationic/oxidizing form; and (ii) at least one reducing agent; and a subsequent layer surrounding the metallic film and formed from at least one of a thermoset composition or a thermoplastic composition wherein a catalytic coating is also disposed between the metallic film and the subsequent layer; and wherein interactions at an interface between the metallic film and each of the substrate layer and the subsequent layer promote adhesion there between. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the catalytic coating is chemisorbed at the outer surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the catalytic coating comprises a coupling agent selected from titanates, aluminates, silanes, zirconates, zircoaluminates or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the catalytic coating further comprises a wetting liquid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the wetting liquid is selected from the group consisting of: deionized water; non-deionized water; deionized water containing at least one anionic, cationic or neutral surfactant; non-deionized water containing at least one anionic, cationic or neutral surfactant; a solution comprising at least one alcohol; and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The golf ball of claim 5, wherein the substrate layer is contacted with the catalytic coating by at least one of: spraying the catalytic coating onto the outer surface; or dipping the outer surface in the catalytic coating. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of: silver, gold, copper, nickel, zinc, cobalt, tin, boron, tungsten, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of: sodium borohydrides, dimethylamine borane, hydrazine, sodium hypophosphite, formol, lithium aluminium hydrides, reducing sugars and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the metallic film has a thickness of from about 0.1 μm to about 50 μm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the metallic film is substantially homogenous. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the subsequent layer is formed from a polyurethane composition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein a different metallic film is disposed between the metallic film and the subsequent layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein a different metallic film is disposed between the coating layer and the subsequent layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the substrate layer comprises a core layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the substrate layer comprises an intermediate layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the substrate layer comprises a cover layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the metallic film has a moisture vapor transmission rate that is lower than a moisture vapor transmission rate of the subsequent layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the metallic film is an inner cover layer and is surrounded by an outer cover layer comprising a polyurethane composition. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the metallic film has a moisture vapor transmission rate that is lower than a moisture vapor transmission rate of the substrate layer. ### Claim 20 A golf ball comprising: a substrate layer having an outer surface; and a metallic film that is formed about the outer surface by contacting the outer surface with a mixture M2 comprising: (i) a coupling agent; (ii) at least one aqueous and/or organic aerosol comprising at least one metal in cationic (oxidizing) form; and (iii) at least one reducing agent; and a subsequent layer surrounding the metallic film and formed from at least one of a thermoset composition or a thermoplastic composition; wherein interactions at an interface between the metallic film and each of the substrate layer and subsequent layer promote adhesion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The golf ball of claim 20, wherein the metallic film has a thickness of from about 0.1 μm to about 50 μm. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The golf ball of claim 20, wherein the metallic film is substantially homogenous. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The golf ball of claim 20, wherein the substrate layer is contacted with mixture M2 by at least one of: spraying the mixture onto the outer surface; or dipping the outer surface in mixture M2. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The golf ball of claim 20, wherein the metallic film has a moisture vapor transmission rate that is lower than a moisture vapor transmission rate of the substrate layer. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The golf ball of claim 20, wherein the metallic film has a moisture vapor transmission rate that is lower than a moisture vapor transmission rate of the subsequent layer.