CA1185732A - Golf ball cover of three ionomer resins - Google Patents
Golf ball cover of three ionomer resinsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1185732A CA1185732A CA000382637A CA382637A CA1185732A CA 1185732 A CA1185732 A CA 1185732A CA 000382637 A CA000382637 A CA 000382637A CA 382637 A CA382637 A CA 382637A CA 1185732 A CA1185732 A CA 1185732A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- golf ball
- cover
- resin
- triblend
- core
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
- A63B37/12—Special coverings, i.e. outer layer material
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
- A63B37/0003—Golf balls
- A63B37/0023—Covers
- A63B37/0024—Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
- A63B37/0003—Golf balls
- A63B37/0023—Covers
- A63B37/0029—Physical properties
- A63B37/0036—Melt flow rate [MFR]
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
- A63B37/0003—Golf balls
- A63B37/005—Cores
- A63B37/006—Physical properties
- A63B37/0064—Diameter
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
- A63B37/0003—Golf balls
- A63B37/007—Characteristics of the ball as a whole
- A63B37/0072—Characteristics of the ball as a whole with a specified number of layers
- A63B37/0074—Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
- C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
- C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
- C08L23/04—Homopolymers or copolymers of ethene
- C08L23/08—Copolymers of ethene
- C08L23/0846—Copolymers of ethene with unsaturated hydrocarbons containing other atoms than carbon or hydrogen atoms
- C08L23/0869—Acids or derivatives thereof
- C08L23/0876—Neutralised polymers, i.e. ionomers
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
- C08L2205/00—Polymer mixtures characterised by other features
- C08L2205/02—Polymer mixtures characterised by other features containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
- C08L2205/00—Polymer mixtures characterised by other features
- C08L2205/03—Polymer mixtures characterised by other features containing three or more polymers in a blend
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION
An improved cover for golf balls is disclosed.
The cover imparts to the ball both a high initial velocity and exceptional durability. The cover is composed of at least three ionomeric resins. The invention is particularly useful with so-called two-piece golf balls, especially those which are compression molded.
An improved cover for golf balls is disclosed.
The cover imparts to the ball both a high initial velocity and exceptional durability. The cover is composed of at least three ionomeric resins. The invention is particularly useful with so-called two-piece golf balls, especially those which are compression molded.
Description
~ 7 3~
GOLF BALL COVER OF THREE IONOMER RESINS
The present inven~ion relates to golf balls and, more particularly, ~o covers for golf balls.
Down through the years, it has been rather standard practice in the golfing industry to supply a cover about a golf ball core. The golf ball core is ~ypically 1~4-1.6 inches in diameter and the cover is of suficient ~hickness to end up wi~h a golf ball having the minimu~
US&A specified diameter of 1068 inches. With the smaller 1~ si~e Britlsh golE ball having a ;ninimum diameter of 1~6 inches~ the core slze is typically 1.35-1.S5 inchesO
IJntil the late 1960's, this cover was used about a ~o call~d wound core. The wound core comprised a cen~er and a long thln elastic band wrapped tigh-~ly thereabou~.
- In the l.a te 1960 ' s, there were found compositions which could replace the wound cores. It was originally ~hought t~at these materials could replace both the core and the cover thus enabling the production of a unitaryg homo-genous golf ball. However, the unitary golf balls h~ve not been ~ound to be o~ sufficiently high qual.ity or pla~
by mo~t golfers. While some unitary golf balls are played by some golfers and quite a great number are used as practice balls in driving ranges and the like, the con-sens~ls of opinio~ today is that a high grade golf ball ~ 7~
should consist of a unitary solid core of approximately the dimensions of a wound core together with a cover thereon.
With respect to golf ball cover ma~erials~ balata was pretty m~lch the standard of the indus~ry until about the middle 1960's when DuPont discovered a new series of resins, now known as ionomers, see U. S. Patent No.
3,264,272. These ionomeric resins have been found to be quite good as golf ball cover materials, see U. S~
Paten~ No. 3,4549280 While balata is still used to a considerable extsnt, the ionomeric resins have dominated the golf ball cover market and have replaced the balata covers except for the really exceptional golfers and those who emulate them. The reason that these ionomeric resins have been so successful is because of their consi-derably improved cut resistance as compared to balata, their substantially cheaper price and their ready avall-abili~y. In connection with the latter it is pointed out that balata is a natural resin imported from foreign countries and its availability, at best, is erratic and prices fluctuate accordingly. The ionomeric resins are sold by E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. under the trademark Surlyn. While the '272 patent mentioned hereinbefore teaches a wide variety of compounds within the purview of the patent9 in actual fact only a relatively few resins ~ t~3 ~
are available commercially. The ionomeric resins are copolymers of an olefin and an ~.~ ethylenically un~
saturated carboxylic acids with 10-90~/o of ~he carboxylic acid groups being neutralized b~ metal ions. While a grea~ number of compounds are embraced w;thin ~he patent, the only resins available in commercial quantities are copolymers of e~hyl~ne with~ s~ methacrylic acid and with the acid groups neutraLized by sodium or zinc ions. Within this narrow spectrum, however, there are quite a number of resins available, the resins dif-fering primarily in the quantities of the three ingredi2nts (ethylene, unsaturated acid, and metal ions) present.
When malcing golf ball covers, the Surlyn resins can be used individually or they can be blended together.
1~ U. S. Patent No. 3,819,768 claims that a blend of a sodium salt of an ionomer resin with a zinc salt of an ionomer resin will give improved cold cracking properties, and an improved coefficient of restitution and superior durabilit:y.
This patent is owned by Questor Corp., manufac~urer of golf balls sold under the trademark TopFlite. While the Questor patent claims that all commercially ava;lable blends of ionomer resins with different mstal ions, i.e.
all blends of zinc ionomer resins and sodium ionomer resins, will have the improved coefficient of restitution, it has been found tha~ most blends of these ~wo resins~
other than the Surlyn 1555 and Surl~n 1557 as specifi-cally set forth in ~he Ques~or patent~ do not have an improvsd coefficient of restitution. It has also been discovered that these blends are generally cut when subjected to the so-called guillotine test.
The Applicants have now discovered a triblend of ionomer resins for golf ball covers which has surprising-ly high durability coupled wikh excellent initial velocity.
In accordance wi~h ~he Applicant's invention, the blend comprises Surlyn 1707, Surlyn 1706 and Surlyn 1702. The Surlyn 1707 ls present in the blend in an amoun~ of from about 35~/O to about 60% by weight of the blend. The Surlyn 1706 is also present in an amount of from about 15% ~o about 50% by weight o the blend. The Surlyn 1702 is present in an amount of from about 5% to about 35% by weight oE the blend.
Surlyn 1707 is a copolymer of ethylene with meth-acrylic acid with about 34.8% free acid, and about 2.1%
sodium ions. This resin has an average melt flow index of about 0.9. Both Surlyn 1702 and Surlyn 1706 are copoly-mers of ethylene and methacryllc acid and the me~al present is zincO In Surlyn 1702 there is about 96.5% free acid and about 1.2% zinc. In Surlyn 1706 there is about 48.9% free acid and about 1.8% zinc. The average melt flow index of 25~ ` Surlyn 1706 is about~}:~ while the average melt flow index of Surlyn 1702 is about 14. When speaking o melt flow index herein~ it is determined according to ASTM Test D1238, Cond;tion E.
In the preferred embodiment of the applicant's in~
vention, the cover is applied by compression molding.
When compression molding, the combination of all of the ionomer resins is preferably selected to yield a bl0nd having a mel~ flow index between 1.0 and 3Ø
It has been found that an excellent golf ball cover can be formed utilizing 40% Surlyn 1707, 45% Surlyn 1706 and 15% Surlyn 1702~ This blend has a melt flow index of about 1.3.
. The Surlyn triblend as hereinbefore described makes up ~b least about 90% of the golf ball cover and prefer-ably at least 95%. Additional materials which may be included in the golf ball cover include other Surlyn resins, titanLum dioxide, dyes, W absorbers, and other known addi-tives. In aecordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the triblend cover is compresslon molded about the coreO This is as distinguished from most9 if not all, two-piece golf balls on the market today in which the cover is injection molded about the core.
In compression molding, golf ball half shells are first formed. These are formed by injection molding. With the preferred triblend of the present invention as set forth hereinbefore~ it has been found that injection molding at 480F for 55 seconds makes good half shells.
The half s~ells are then placed about the core and the assembly is introduced into a compression molding machine, The compression molding machine i.s a hydraulic press having upper and lower plates. Each plate has a series of golf ball hal~ molds therein,the opposed half molds being in registration to make the spherical golf balls. It has been found ~hat half shells made with the preferred triblend of the present invention can be suitably compression molded at 300F for 3 minutes 15 seconds. While sti11. in the mold, the balls are cooled by the in~roduction o~ chilled water, It has been ound that 40 water circul-ated Eor 3 minutes 45 seconds will reduce the temperature o~ the balls ~o about 70F3 which has been found to be suitable for use in the present invention, After the balls are compression molded they go through various known ~urther steps such as buffing the flash line~
painting, namestamping etc. The balls are then permitted to stabilize at room temperature for at least one week before they are usedg primarily to let the paint hardenO
The i.nvention is illustrated by the following examples~
A golf ball core was prepared in standard manner utili-zing polybutadiene and zinc dimethacrylate as disclosed in 5~73~2 British Patent lt364,138 of September 8, 1972. The core had a diameter of 1.50 inches. About this core was compression molded a cover according to the present invention. The cover was made of 40% Surlyn 1707, 45% Surlyn 1706 and 15%
Surlyn 1702~ 100 parts of this blend were combined with 5 parts by weight of a pigmenting composition comprising 40 parts by weight titanium dioxide, 0.024 parts of phthalocyani~e blue~ 0.025 parts cadmium yellow and 60 parts of Surlyn 1559 ionomer resin as an assimilation aid~ The cover stock had a melt flow index of 1.4. It was formed into golf ball half shells by injecting molding a~ 480F. The golf ball half shells were then compression molded about the corners at 300 for 3 minutes 15 seconds yielding a golf ball with a diame-ter of 1.68 inches, i.e. a nominal cover thickness of n .os inches.
The balls were then coated with an epoxy primer and a finish coat of polyurethane. In accordance with standard processing techinques, the balls were then permitted to age for two weeks.
The balls as thus prepared were compared to commercially purchased TopFlite golf balls. The TopE'lite golf ~0 b~lls have a similar core and have a cover which is a blend of a zinc Surlyn resin and a sodium Surlyn resin.
The balls were compared as to cutting resistance by using a guillotine test. In the guillotine test, a knife Sd/c~ _7_ ~ 32 edge of a specific weight is impacted against the golf ball from a specified height under the force of gravîty.
Cut resistance is determined according to the number of cuts which the ball suffers~ a cut being defined as penetra~
tion completely through the cover~ A mere crease in the golf ball is not considered to be a cut for testing purposes. In the instant case, the guillotine blade weighed 8 pounds, was dropped from a height of 32 inches and had a blade tip sur-face of approximately 5/16 inches rounded on both corners, which simulates the leading edge of iron type golf clubs.
In the guillotine test, the Top~lite golf balls suffered cuts in 43 out of 48 instances while golf balls having the cover of the presen~ invention had only 1 cut out of 48.
The gol~ balls according to the present lnvention and the TopFlite golf balls were also tested for initial velo-city. Under United States Golf Association rules, the maximum initial velocity which a golf ball can have is 255 ~eet per second (250 feet per second with maximum 2%
error). The TopFlite golf balls had an initial velocity of about 250.8 feet per second while the golf balls accor-ding to the present invention had an inltial velocity of about 251.0 feet per second. It is thus seen that golf balls according to the present invention had very surprisingly higher cut resistance with no loss in initial velocity.
_ample 2 Example 1 was repeated except that Surlyn 1652 was used in place of theSurlyn 1702. Surlyn 1652 is a zinc ionomer resin of ethylene and methacrylic acid with 92,9%
free acid and 0.6V/o zinc. When these golf balls were tested for cut resistance~ the cut resistance was com-parable to the cut resistance of the golf balls of ~he present invention made according to Example 1. However, it was also noted that the initial velocity of the golf ball dropped by aboutO.4 feet per second. A difference of 1 foot per second in initial velocity is generally considered to equate to about 1-1/2 yards on a drive of 225 yards.
Example 3 In order to confirm the improved cut resistance of the covers according to the present invention as com-pared to the TopFlite golf ball, a series of golf balls were prepared using cores of commercially available TopFlite gol balls. The covers on the TopFlite golf balls were carefully removed and the c~ras were found to have a diametar of 1.5 inches. To these cores were molded covers in the same manner as set forth ln Example l. The balls thus formed were then compared to TopFlite golf balls (purchased at the same time) for cut resistance.
In this case, the 8 pound blade of the guillotine was _9_ ~ 3 2 dropped 30 inches. The TopFlite golf balls suffered 20 cuts out of 24 instances (83% cutting) while gol balls made with the TopFlite cores but with the cover of the present invention suffered only 6 cu~s out of 48 instances (12.5%), Example 4 Example 1 is again repeated except that in this instance standard wound cores are utilized rather than utilizing a solid core. The wound cores selected have a polybutadiene center of about 1.06 inches with a band of elastic ~ightly wrapped thereabout to yield a core of about 1.5 inches.
When tested in the guillotine test, the balls do very well as compared to other commercially available gol~ balls having Surlyn resin covers. However, they do not perfoxm as well as golf balls according to the present invention with a solid core.
It will be understood that the claims are intended to cover all changes and modifications of the preferred embodiments of the invention~ herein chosen for the pur-pose of illustra~ion9 which do not cons~itute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.
GOLF BALL COVER OF THREE IONOMER RESINS
The present inven~ion relates to golf balls and, more particularly, ~o covers for golf balls.
Down through the years, it has been rather standard practice in the golfing industry to supply a cover about a golf ball core. The golf ball core is ~ypically 1~4-1.6 inches in diameter and the cover is of suficient ~hickness to end up wi~h a golf ball having the minimu~
US&A specified diameter of 1068 inches. With the smaller 1~ si~e Britlsh golE ball having a ;ninimum diameter of 1~6 inches~ the core slze is typically 1.35-1.S5 inchesO
IJntil the late 1960's, this cover was used about a ~o call~d wound core. The wound core comprised a cen~er and a long thln elastic band wrapped tigh-~ly thereabou~.
- In the l.a te 1960 ' s, there were found compositions which could replace the wound cores. It was originally ~hought t~at these materials could replace both the core and the cover thus enabling the production of a unitaryg homo-genous golf ball. However, the unitary golf balls h~ve not been ~ound to be o~ sufficiently high qual.ity or pla~
by mo~t golfers. While some unitary golf balls are played by some golfers and quite a great number are used as practice balls in driving ranges and the like, the con-sens~ls of opinio~ today is that a high grade golf ball ~ 7~
should consist of a unitary solid core of approximately the dimensions of a wound core together with a cover thereon.
With respect to golf ball cover ma~erials~ balata was pretty m~lch the standard of the indus~ry until about the middle 1960's when DuPont discovered a new series of resins, now known as ionomers, see U. S. Patent No.
3,264,272. These ionomeric resins have been found to be quite good as golf ball cover materials, see U. S~
Paten~ No. 3,4549280 While balata is still used to a considerable extsnt, the ionomeric resins have dominated the golf ball cover market and have replaced the balata covers except for the really exceptional golfers and those who emulate them. The reason that these ionomeric resins have been so successful is because of their consi-derably improved cut resistance as compared to balata, their substantially cheaper price and their ready avall-abili~y. In connection with the latter it is pointed out that balata is a natural resin imported from foreign countries and its availability, at best, is erratic and prices fluctuate accordingly. The ionomeric resins are sold by E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. under the trademark Surlyn. While the '272 patent mentioned hereinbefore teaches a wide variety of compounds within the purview of the patent9 in actual fact only a relatively few resins ~ t~3 ~
are available commercially. The ionomeric resins are copolymers of an olefin and an ~.~ ethylenically un~
saturated carboxylic acids with 10-90~/o of ~he carboxylic acid groups being neutralized b~ metal ions. While a grea~ number of compounds are embraced w;thin ~he patent, the only resins available in commercial quantities are copolymers of e~hyl~ne with~ s~ methacrylic acid and with the acid groups neutraLized by sodium or zinc ions. Within this narrow spectrum, however, there are quite a number of resins available, the resins dif-fering primarily in the quantities of the three ingredi2nts (ethylene, unsaturated acid, and metal ions) present.
When malcing golf ball covers, the Surlyn resins can be used individually or they can be blended together.
1~ U. S. Patent No. 3,819,768 claims that a blend of a sodium salt of an ionomer resin with a zinc salt of an ionomer resin will give improved cold cracking properties, and an improved coefficient of restitution and superior durabilit:y.
This patent is owned by Questor Corp., manufac~urer of golf balls sold under the trademark TopFlite. While the Questor patent claims that all commercially ava;lable blends of ionomer resins with different mstal ions, i.e.
all blends of zinc ionomer resins and sodium ionomer resins, will have the improved coefficient of restitution, it has been found tha~ most blends of these ~wo resins~
other than the Surlyn 1555 and Surl~n 1557 as specifi-cally set forth in ~he Ques~or patent~ do not have an improvsd coefficient of restitution. It has also been discovered that these blends are generally cut when subjected to the so-called guillotine test.
The Applicants have now discovered a triblend of ionomer resins for golf ball covers which has surprising-ly high durability coupled wikh excellent initial velocity.
In accordance wi~h ~he Applicant's invention, the blend comprises Surlyn 1707, Surlyn 1706 and Surlyn 1702. The Surlyn 1707 ls present in the blend in an amoun~ of from about 35~/O to about 60% by weight of the blend. The Surlyn 1706 is also present in an amount of from about 15% ~o about 50% by weight o the blend. The Surlyn 1702 is present in an amount of from about 5% to about 35% by weight oE the blend.
Surlyn 1707 is a copolymer of ethylene with meth-acrylic acid with about 34.8% free acid, and about 2.1%
sodium ions. This resin has an average melt flow index of about 0.9. Both Surlyn 1702 and Surlyn 1706 are copoly-mers of ethylene and methacryllc acid and the me~al present is zincO In Surlyn 1702 there is about 96.5% free acid and about 1.2% zinc. In Surlyn 1706 there is about 48.9% free acid and about 1.8% zinc. The average melt flow index of 25~ ` Surlyn 1706 is about~}:~ while the average melt flow index of Surlyn 1702 is about 14. When speaking o melt flow index herein~ it is determined according to ASTM Test D1238, Cond;tion E.
In the preferred embodiment of the applicant's in~
vention, the cover is applied by compression molding.
When compression molding, the combination of all of the ionomer resins is preferably selected to yield a bl0nd having a mel~ flow index between 1.0 and 3Ø
It has been found that an excellent golf ball cover can be formed utilizing 40% Surlyn 1707, 45% Surlyn 1706 and 15% Surlyn 1702~ This blend has a melt flow index of about 1.3.
. The Surlyn triblend as hereinbefore described makes up ~b least about 90% of the golf ball cover and prefer-ably at least 95%. Additional materials which may be included in the golf ball cover include other Surlyn resins, titanLum dioxide, dyes, W absorbers, and other known addi-tives. In aecordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the triblend cover is compresslon molded about the coreO This is as distinguished from most9 if not all, two-piece golf balls on the market today in which the cover is injection molded about the core.
In compression molding, golf ball half shells are first formed. These are formed by injection molding. With the preferred triblend of the present invention as set forth hereinbefore~ it has been found that injection molding at 480F for 55 seconds makes good half shells.
The half s~ells are then placed about the core and the assembly is introduced into a compression molding machine, The compression molding machine i.s a hydraulic press having upper and lower plates. Each plate has a series of golf ball hal~ molds therein,the opposed half molds being in registration to make the spherical golf balls. It has been found ~hat half shells made with the preferred triblend of the present invention can be suitably compression molded at 300F for 3 minutes 15 seconds. While sti11. in the mold, the balls are cooled by the in~roduction o~ chilled water, It has been ound that 40 water circul-ated Eor 3 minutes 45 seconds will reduce the temperature o~ the balls ~o about 70F3 which has been found to be suitable for use in the present invention, After the balls are compression molded they go through various known ~urther steps such as buffing the flash line~
painting, namestamping etc. The balls are then permitted to stabilize at room temperature for at least one week before they are usedg primarily to let the paint hardenO
The i.nvention is illustrated by the following examples~
A golf ball core was prepared in standard manner utili-zing polybutadiene and zinc dimethacrylate as disclosed in 5~73~2 British Patent lt364,138 of September 8, 1972. The core had a diameter of 1.50 inches. About this core was compression molded a cover according to the present invention. The cover was made of 40% Surlyn 1707, 45% Surlyn 1706 and 15%
Surlyn 1702~ 100 parts of this blend were combined with 5 parts by weight of a pigmenting composition comprising 40 parts by weight titanium dioxide, 0.024 parts of phthalocyani~e blue~ 0.025 parts cadmium yellow and 60 parts of Surlyn 1559 ionomer resin as an assimilation aid~ The cover stock had a melt flow index of 1.4. It was formed into golf ball half shells by injecting molding a~ 480F. The golf ball half shells were then compression molded about the corners at 300 for 3 minutes 15 seconds yielding a golf ball with a diame-ter of 1.68 inches, i.e. a nominal cover thickness of n .os inches.
The balls were then coated with an epoxy primer and a finish coat of polyurethane. In accordance with standard processing techinques, the balls were then permitted to age for two weeks.
The balls as thus prepared were compared to commercially purchased TopFlite golf balls. The TopE'lite golf ~0 b~lls have a similar core and have a cover which is a blend of a zinc Surlyn resin and a sodium Surlyn resin.
The balls were compared as to cutting resistance by using a guillotine test. In the guillotine test, a knife Sd/c~ _7_ ~ 32 edge of a specific weight is impacted against the golf ball from a specified height under the force of gravîty.
Cut resistance is determined according to the number of cuts which the ball suffers~ a cut being defined as penetra~
tion completely through the cover~ A mere crease in the golf ball is not considered to be a cut for testing purposes. In the instant case, the guillotine blade weighed 8 pounds, was dropped from a height of 32 inches and had a blade tip sur-face of approximately 5/16 inches rounded on both corners, which simulates the leading edge of iron type golf clubs.
In the guillotine test, the Top~lite golf balls suffered cuts in 43 out of 48 instances while golf balls having the cover of the presen~ invention had only 1 cut out of 48.
The gol~ balls according to the present lnvention and the TopFlite golf balls were also tested for initial velo-city. Under United States Golf Association rules, the maximum initial velocity which a golf ball can have is 255 ~eet per second (250 feet per second with maximum 2%
error). The TopFlite golf balls had an initial velocity of about 250.8 feet per second while the golf balls accor-ding to the present invention had an inltial velocity of about 251.0 feet per second. It is thus seen that golf balls according to the present invention had very surprisingly higher cut resistance with no loss in initial velocity.
_ample 2 Example 1 was repeated except that Surlyn 1652 was used in place of theSurlyn 1702. Surlyn 1652 is a zinc ionomer resin of ethylene and methacrylic acid with 92,9%
free acid and 0.6V/o zinc. When these golf balls were tested for cut resistance~ the cut resistance was com-parable to the cut resistance of the golf balls of ~he present invention made according to Example 1. However, it was also noted that the initial velocity of the golf ball dropped by aboutO.4 feet per second. A difference of 1 foot per second in initial velocity is generally considered to equate to about 1-1/2 yards on a drive of 225 yards.
Example 3 In order to confirm the improved cut resistance of the covers according to the present invention as com-pared to the TopFlite golf ball, a series of golf balls were prepared using cores of commercially available TopFlite gol balls. The covers on the TopFlite golf balls were carefully removed and the c~ras were found to have a diametar of 1.5 inches. To these cores were molded covers in the same manner as set forth ln Example l. The balls thus formed were then compared to TopFlite golf balls (purchased at the same time) for cut resistance.
In this case, the 8 pound blade of the guillotine was _9_ ~ 3 2 dropped 30 inches. The TopFlite golf balls suffered 20 cuts out of 24 instances (83% cutting) while gol balls made with the TopFlite cores but with the cover of the present invention suffered only 6 cu~s out of 48 instances (12.5%), Example 4 Example 1 is again repeated except that in this instance standard wound cores are utilized rather than utilizing a solid core. The wound cores selected have a polybutadiene center of about 1.06 inches with a band of elastic ~ightly wrapped thereabout to yield a core of about 1.5 inches.
When tested in the guillotine test, the balls do very well as compared to other commercially available gol~ balls having Surlyn resin covers. However, they do not perfoxm as well as golf balls according to the present invention with a solid core.
It will be understood that the claims are intended to cover all changes and modifications of the preferred embodiments of the invention~ herein chosen for the pur-pose of illustra~ion9 which do not cons~itute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (10)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, the improvement comprising at least about 90%
of said cover being composed of a triblend as follows:
(a) a first ionomer resin which is a copolymer of ethylene with methacrylic acid and having 34.8% free acid, about 2.1% sodium ions and an average melt flow index of about 0.9, said first resin being present in an amount of about 35% to about 60% by weight of the triblend;
(b) a second ionomer resin which is a copolymer of ethylene with methacrylic acid with about 48.9% free acid, about 1.8% zinc and an average melt flow index of about 0.7, said second resin being present in an amount of from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the triblend; and (c) a third ionomer resin which is a copolymer of ethylene with methacrylic acid having about 96.5% free acid, about 1.2% zinc and an average melt flow index of about 14, said third resin being present in the amount of from about 5% to about 35% by weight of the triblend.
of said cover being composed of a triblend as follows:
(a) a first ionomer resin which is a copolymer of ethylene with methacrylic acid and having 34.8% free acid, about 2.1% sodium ions and an average melt flow index of about 0.9, said first resin being present in an amount of about 35% to about 60% by weight of the triblend;
(b) a second ionomer resin which is a copolymer of ethylene with methacrylic acid with about 48.9% free acid, about 1.8% zinc and an average melt flow index of about 0.7, said second resin being present in an amount of from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the triblend; and (c) a third ionomer resin which is a copolymer of ethylene with methacrylic acid having about 96.5% free acid, about 1.2% zinc and an average melt flow index of about 14, said third resin being present in the amount of from about 5% to about 35% by weight of the triblend.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the quantities of the 3 resins are selected to yield a triblend having a melt index between about 1.0 and about 3Ø
3. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein there is about 40% of the first resin, 45% of the second resin and 15% of the third resin.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the core is a unitary mass.
5. The golf ball of claim 4 wherein the core has a diameter of about 1.5 inches.
6. The golf ball of claim 5 wherein the diameter of the golf ball is at least 1.68 inches.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the golf ball is at least 1.62 inches.
8. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the cover is compression molded about the core.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein at least about 95% of the cover is composed of the triblend.
10. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the cover com-prises, in combination, up to 10% by weight of one or more additional ingredients selected from the group con-sisting of other ionomer resins, titanium dioxide, dyes, and UV absorbers.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US06/226,170 US4323247A (en) | 1981-01-19 | 1981-01-19 | Golf ball cover |
| US226,170 | 1981-01-19 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1185732A true CA1185732A (en) | 1985-04-16 |
Family
ID=22847855
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000382637A Expired CA1185732A (en) | 1981-01-19 | 1981-07-28 | Golf ball cover of three ionomer resins |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4323247A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS57119766A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU540356B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1185732A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2091275B (en) |
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| US8193296B2 (en) | 2010-06-30 | 2012-06-05 | Nike, Inc. | Golf balls including crosslinked thermoplastic polyurethane |
| US8980155B2 (en) | 2012-01-03 | 2015-03-17 | Nike, Inc. | Over-indexed thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, method of making, and articles comprising the elastomer |
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| US9101796B2 (en) | 2012-01-03 | 2015-08-11 | Nike, Inc. | Golf ball having an over-indexed thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer cover and having a soft feeling when hit |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3940146A (en) * | 1971-02-03 | 1976-02-24 | Uniroyal Inc. | Golf ball cover |
| US3819768A (en) * | 1972-02-11 | 1974-06-25 | Questor Corp | Golf ball cover compositions comprising a mixture of ionomer resins |
| US4264075A (en) * | 1975-08-07 | 1981-04-28 | Princeton Chemical Research, Inc. | Two piece molded golf ball |
| JPS52154436A (en) * | 1976-06-16 | 1977-12-22 | Bridgestone Corp | Two-layer solid golf ball |
-
1981
- 1981-01-19 US US06/226,170 patent/US4323247A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1981-07-28 CA CA000382637A patent/CA1185732A/en not_active Expired
- 1981-08-20 AU AU74377/81A patent/AU540356B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1981-11-13 JP JP56182173A patent/JPS57119766A/en active Granted
- 1981-11-16 GB GB8134483A patent/GB2091275B/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2091275A (en) | 1982-07-28 |
| AU540356B2 (en) | 1984-11-15 |
| GB2091275B (en) | 1984-04-26 |
| US4323247A (en) | 1982-04-06 |
| AU7437781A (en) | 1982-07-29 |
| JPS57119766A (en) | 1982-07-26 |
| JPS626459B2 (en) | 1987-02-10 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |