Golf ball composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to golf ball having a core and an outer cover layer made from a blend composition of about 1 to about 99 wt % of a block copolymer having no polar functionality; and from about 1 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of either one or more unimodal acidic polymers; or a bimodal polymer blend composition including a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about 80,000 to about 500,000 and including one or more ethylene/α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C 3-8 carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; and a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising one or more ethylene/α, β-ethylenically unsaturated C 3-8 carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers. Also included in the blend is one or more basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acid groups of the acid polymer. The blend composition has a melt index of greater than about 5 g/10 min, a flexural modulus of from about 500 to about 100,000 psi, a material Shore D hardness of from about 25 to about 70; and the golf ball has a cover layer Shire D hardness as measured on the ball of from about 35 to about 70 and a shear cut resistance of less than about 4.

1 . A two piece golf ball having;
 1) a core comprising a center, and   2) an outer cover layer;   
     wherein the outer cover layer comprises a blend composition of;
 (A) from about 1 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of a block copolymer having no polar functionality; and 
 (B) from about 1 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of;
 a) one or more unimodal acidic polymers; or 
 b) a bimodal polymer blend composition comprising:
 i) a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about 80,000 to about 500,000 and comprising one or more ethylene/α, β-ethylenically unsaturated C 3-8  carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; and 
 ii) a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising one or more ethylene/α, β-ethylenically unsaturated C 3-8  carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; and 
 
 
 (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acid groups of Component (B); and 
 wherein said blend composition has a melt index of greater than about 5 g/10 min, a flexural modulus of from about 500 to about 100,000 psi, a material Shore D hardness of from about 25 to about 70; and 
 wherein said golf ball has a cover layer Shire D hardness as measured on the ball of from about 35 to about 70 and a shear cut resistance of less than about 4. 
 
   
   
       2 . A golf ball comprising;
 1) a core comprising a center,   2) an outer cover layer; and   3) one or more intermediate layers,   
     wherein at least one of the outer cover layer or the intermediate layer comprises a blend composition of;
 (A) from about 1 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of a block copolymer having no polar functionality; and 
 (B) from about 1 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of;
 a) one or more unimodal acidic polymers; or 
 b) a bimodal polymer blend composition comprising:
 i) a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about 80,000 to about 500,000 and comprising one or more ethylene/α, β-ethylenically unsaturated C 3-8  carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; and 
 ii) a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising one or more ethylene/α, β-ethylenically unsaturated C 3-8  carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; and 
 
 
 (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greater than or equal to about 30 percent of the acid groups of Component (B); and 
 wherein said blend composition has a melt index of greater than about 5 g/10 min, a flexural modulus of from about 500 to about 100,000 psi, a material Shore D hardness of from about 25 to about 70; and 
 wherein said golf ball has a cover layer Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of from about 35 to about 70 and a shear cut resistance of less than about 4. 
 
   
   
       3 . The golf ball of  claim 2  wherein;
 1) said outer cover layer comprises a blend composition of;   (A) from about 10 to about 90 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of a block copolymer having no polar functionality; and   (B) from about 10 to about 90 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of;
 a) one or more unimodal acidic polymers; or 
 b) a bimodal polymer blend composition comprising:
 i) a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about 80,000 to about 500,000 and comprising one or more ethylene/α, β-ethylenically unsaturated C 3-8  carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; and 
 ii) a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising one or more ethylene/α, β-ethylenically unsaturated C 3-8  carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; and 
 
   (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greater than or equal to about 35 percent of the acid groups of Component (B) and selected from the group consisting of metal hydroxides, metal oxides, metal carbonates, metal acetates, metal stearates, metal laureates, metal oleates, metal palmitates and any and all combinations thereof; and wherein   said blend composition has a melt index of greater than about 10 g/10 min, a flexural modulus of from about 1000 to about 80,000 psi, a material Shore D hardness of from about 30 to about 65; and   2) said one or more intermediate layers comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of ionomer, polyamide, polyalkenamer, and any and all combinations thereof; and   wherein said golf ball has a cover layer Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of from about 45 to about 70 and a shear cut resistance of less than about 3.   
   
   
       4 . The golf ball of  claim 2  wherein;
 1) said outer cover layer comprises a blend composition of;   (A) from about 20 to about 80 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of a block copolymer having no polar functionality; and   (B) from about 20 to about 80 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of;
 a) one or more unimodal acidic polymers; or 
 b) a bimodal polymer blend composition comprising:
 i) a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about 80,000 to about 500,000 and comprising one or more ethylene/α, β-ethylenically unsaturated C 3-8  carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; and 
 ii) a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising one or more ethylene/α, β-ethylenically unsaturated C 3-8  carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; and 
 
   (C) one or more basic metal salts present in an amount to neutralize at greater than or equal to about 40 percent of the acid groups of Component (B) and selected from the group consisting of metal hydroxides, metal oxides, metal carbonates, metal acetates, metal stearates, metal laureates, metal oleates, metal palmitates and any and all combinations thereof; and wherein   said blend composition has a melt index of greater than about 15 g/10 min, a flexural modulus of from about 1500 to about 60,000 psi, a material Shore D hardness of from about 35 to about 60; and   2) said one or more intermediate layers comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of an ionomer, a polyamide, a polyoctenamer, and any and all combinations thereof; and   
     wherein said golf ball has a cover layer Shore D hardness as measured on the ball of from about 50 to about 70 and a shear cut resistance of less than about 2. 
   
   
       5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the block copolymer of Component A has no pendent or terminal hydroxyl groups within any of the constituent polymer blocks. 
   
   
       6 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the block copolymer of Component A has no pendent or terminal hydroxyl groups within any of the constituent polymer blocks. 
   
   
       7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the blend composition of the outer cover layer is made by melt mixing together Components A, B and C. 
   
   
       8 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein Components A and B are initially melt-mixed together and then Component C is melt-mixed with the blend of Components A and B. 
   
   
       9 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the blend composition is made by melt mixing together Components A, B and C. 
   
   
       10 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein Components A and B are initially melt-mixed together and then Component C is melt-mixed with the blend of Components A and B. 
   
   
       11 . The golf ball of  claim 5 , wherein the block copolymer of Component A include a first polymer block having an aromatic vinyl compound, and a second polymer block having an olefinic and/or conjugated diene compound. 
   
   
       12 . The golf ball of  claim 6 , wherein the block copolymer of Component A include a first polymer block having an aromatic vinyl compound, and a second polymer block having an olefinic and/or conjugated diene compound.