Golf ball with a thermoset polyurethane cover

Abstract

A golf ball with an improved cover layer that is formed over the core, and that is a thermoset polyurethane composition or a thermoset polyurea composition, each formed from reactants comprising respective thermoplastic polyurethane or polyurea and a cross-linking hydrolysable organosilane having the general formula: where, R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are aliphatic alkyl, aromatic alkyl and n≧1; and R 4 is an organic radical capable of reacting with the polymer backbone moiety, which comprises a cross-linking agent having at least two isocyanate functions. The thermoplastic polyurethane obtained is capable after processing of cross-linking on contact with water molecules to become thermoset. The golf ball can also include an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, where the intermediate layer is composed of a blend of ionomers. The golf ball hydrolysable organosilane cross-linking agent is gamma-methyl aminopropyl methoxy silane.

1 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core; and   a cover formed over the core, the cover composed of a thermoset polyurethane material formed from reactants comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane, a cross-linking agent comprising at least two isocyanate groups, and a hydrolysable organosilane having the general formula;   
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       where, R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are aliphatic alkyl, aromatic alkyl and n≧1 and 
       R 4  is an organic radical capable of reacting with the polymer backbone moiety, which comprises a cross-linking agent having at least two isocyanate functions. The thermoplastic polyurethane obtained is capable after processing of cross-linking on contact with water molecules to become thermoset. 
     
   
   
       2 . The golf ball according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover. 
   
   
       3 . The golf ball according to  claim 2  wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness between 0.020 to 0.050 inch. 
   
   
       4 . The golf ball according to  claim 2 , wherein the intermediate layer is composed of a blend of ionomers that include cross-linking polyurethane and polyurea. 
   
   
       5 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrolysable organosilane is gamma-methyl aminopropyl methoxy silane. 
   
   
       6 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoset polyurethane composition has a Shore D hardness of 20-70. 
   
   
       7 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoset polyurethane composition has a flexural modulus of 17,000 to 80,000 psi. 
   
   
       8 . The golf ball according to  claim 1  wherein the cover has a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.065 inch. 
   
   
       9 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core; and   a cover formed over the core, the cover composed of a thermoset polyurea material formed from reactants comprising a thermoplastic polyurea, across-linking agent comprising of at least two isocyanate groups, and a hydrolysable organosilane having the general formula;   
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       where, R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are aliphatic alkyl, aromatic alkyl and n≧1; and 
       R 4  is an organic radical capable of reacting with the polymer backbone moiety, which comprises a cross-linking agent having at least two isocyanate functions. The thermoplastic polyurethane obtained is capable after processing of cross-linking on contact with water molecules to become thermoset. 
     
   
   
       10 . The golf ball according to  claim 9  further comprising at least one intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover. 
   
   
       11 . The golf ball according to  claim 10  wherein the intermediate layer is composed of a blend of ionomers. 
   
   
       12 . The golf ball according to  claim 9 , wherein the hydrolysable organosilane is gamma-methyl aminopropyl methoxy silane. 
   
   
       13 . The golf ball according to  claim 9 , wherein the thermoset polyurea composition has a Shore D hardness of 20-70. 
   
   
       14 . The golf ball according to  claim 9 , wherein the thermoset polyurea composition has a flexural modulus of 15,000 to 80,000 psi. 
   
   
       15 . The golf ball according to  claim 9  wherein the cover has a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.065 inch. 
   
   
       16 . A golf ball comprising: a core comprising a polybutadiene mixture, the core having a diameter ranging from 1.35 inches to 1.64 inches and having a PGA compression ranging from 50 to 90; an intermediate layer formed over the core, the intermediate layer composed of a blend of ionomer materials, the intermediate layer having a thickness ranging from 0.020 inch to 0.075 inch, the blend of ionomer materials having a Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 75 as measured according to ASTM-D2240; and a cover formed over the intermediate layer, the cover composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material formed from reactants comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and a hydrolysable organosilane, wherein the thermosetting polyurethane material has a Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 60 as measured according to ASTM-D2240, and a thickness ranging from 0.020 inch to 0.030 inch.