Compositions for golf equipment

Abstract

The present invention is directed to golf balls having at least one layer formed from a polyurea composition. The polyurea is formed by combining an aliphatic polyurea prepolymer, a diamine curative, and a cyclic carbonate diluent. Golf balls of the present invention include one-piece, two-piece, multi-layer, and wound golf balls. The composition may be present in any one or more of a core layer, a cover layer, or an intermediate layer.

1 . A golf ball having at least one layer formed from a polyurea composition, wherein the composition comprises a product formed by combining:
 an aliphatic polyurea prepolymer,   a diamine curative, and   a cyclic carbonate diluent having a formula selected from the group consisting of:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where x is 1 to 9; n is 1 to 40; and each R group is independently selected from hydrogen, linear and branched C 1 -C 20  hydrocarbon groups, linear and branched C 1 -C 20  hydroxylalkyl groups, linear and branched alkoxyalkylenes and polyalkoxyalkylenes, linear and branched C 1 -C 20  haloalkyl groups, linear and branched —C m H 2m+1  where m is 1 to 8, linear and branched —C m H 2m OH where m is 1 to 8, linear and branched —(CH 2 ) m H where m is 1 to 2, linear and branched —(CH 2 ) m OH where m is 1 to 2, and linear and branched alkoxy groups and aryloxy groups. 
       
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cyclic carbonate diluent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, isobutylene carbonate, styrene carbonate, phenylethylene carbonate, butyl soyate carbonate, butyl linseed carbonate, glycerine carbonate, oleic acid 8,9-carbonate, succinic acid glyceryl carbonate monoester, glutaric acid glyceryl carbonate monoester, 9,10-dihydroxystearic acid carbonate, and cyclic trimethylolpropane carbonate. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the product is formed by additionally combining a cyclic amidine delayed action catalyst having a formula selected from the group consisting of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where n is 0 or 1; 
         R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 4  alkyls, C 5 -C 10  cycloalkyls, C 7 -C 13  aralkyls, C 6 -C 18  aryls, or at least one of R 2 /R 3 , R 4 /R 5 , R 6 /R 7 , R 2 /R 4  and R 2 /R 6  is a C 1 -C 5  alkylene moiety; and 
         R 8  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -C 36  aliphatics, alicyclics, araliphatics, and aromatics, and substituted derivatives thereof. 
       
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent is present in the composition in an amount of 0.05 wt % or greater, based on the total weight of the prepolymer. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent is present in the composition in an amount of from 0.05 wt % to 6 wt %, based on the total weight of the prepolymer. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the prepolymer is formed from a telechelic polyamine having a number average molecular weight of from 1,500 to 5,000 and an alicyclic polyisocyanate. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the diamine curative is an alicyclic secondary diamine. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the diamine curative is 4,4′-bis(sec-butylamino)-dicyclohexylmethane. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the prepolymer has a % NCO of from 6% to 15%. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises a core and a cover, and wherein the core has a diameter of 1.64 inches or less, a compression of 80 or less, and a COR of 0.780 or greater. 
     
     
         11 . A golf ball comprising:
 a solid core formed from a rubber composition;   a cover layer formed from a polyurea composition, wherein the composition comprises a product formed by combining an aliphatic polyurea prepolymer, a diamine curative, and a propylene carbonate; and   an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover layer, wherein the intermediate layer is formed from an ionomer-based composition.   
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the ball additionally comprises an outer core layer disposed between the core and the intermediate layer, and wherein the outer core layer is formed from the same or a different rubber composition as the core.