Formulating technique for casting aliphatic golf ball covers

Abstract

A golf ball having a cover is cast from a castable reactive aliphatic functional composition consisting essentially of: a methylene dicyclohexyl diisocyanate based prepolymer; at least one polyamine/polyamide functional component used as a backbone of the prepolymer; a free isocyanate group; and a curative. The polyamine/polyamide is formed from the condensation reaction of a polyamine and a polyacid, with the equivalent ratio of polyamine to polyacid ranges from 2:1 to 10:1, preferably the ratio is 3:1, and more preferably 2:1. It is preferable that the polyamine be a Jeffamine series D-2000. The polyacid can be chosen from acids such as maleic, adipic, azelaic or sebacic. It is preferable that the prepolymer be a polyurethane or urea. The formulating techniques eliminate the need for post curing when using aliphatic chemistries in golf ball covers.

1 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core; and   a cover,   wherein the cover is cast from a castable reactive aliphatic functional composition consisting essentially of: a methylene dicyclohexyl diisocyanate based prepolymer; at least one polyamine/polyamide functional component used as a backbone of the prepolymer; a free isocyanate group; and a curative.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polyamine/polyamide is formed from the condensation reaction of a polyamine and a polyacid, with the equivalent ratio of polyamine to polyacid ranges from 2:1 to 10:1. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the equivalent ration is 3:1. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the equivalent ration is 2:1. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polyamine is a Jeffamine series D-2000. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polyacid may be is selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid and sebacic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the prepolymer is a polyurethane. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the prepolymer is urea. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the free isocyanate group is 6.4% of the cover composition. 
     
     
         10 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core; and   a cover,   wherein the cover is cast from a castable reactive aliphatic functional composition consisting essentially of: a methylene dicyclohexyl diisocyanate based prepolymer; a free isocyanate group; and a curative including at least one polyamine/polyamide functional component   
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polyamine/polyamide functional component is formed from the condensation reaction of a polyamine and a polyacid, with the equivalent ratio of polyamine to polyacid ranges from 2:1 to 10:1. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the equivalent ration is 3:1. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the equivalent ration is 2:1. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polyamine is a Jeffamine series D-2000. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polyacid may be is selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid and sebacic acid. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the prepolymer is a polyurethane. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the prepolymer is urea. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the free isocyanate group is 6.4% of the cover composition.