Golf ball compositions
View Patent ↗Disclosed herein are heterogeneous golf ball compositions comprising a thermoplastic polymer matrix and discrete particles of thermoplastic polymer dispersed within the matrix.
1. A golf ball comprising a layer formed from a heterogeneous composition, the heterogeneous composition comprising:
a matrix formed from a first thermoplastic composition, and
discrete particles of a second thermoplastic composition dispersed within the matrix,
the second thermoplastic composition having a melting point above the processing temperature of the first thermoplastic composition and comprising a polymer having a specific gravity of 1.38 g/cm 3 or less;
wherein the first thermoplastic composition comprises greater than 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the first thermoplastic composition, of a non-ionomeric base resin selected from one or more E/X/Y-type acid copolymers of ethylene, an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, and optionally a softening comonomer.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer of the second thermoplastic composition has a specific gravity of 1.35 g/cm 3 or less.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer of the second thermoplastic composition has a specific gravity of 1.31 g/cm 3 or less.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the second thermoplastic composition is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polyamides, and polyether and polyester amides.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the discrete particles have a particle size of 0.037 mm or greater.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the discrete particles are present in the composition in an amount of 10 wt % or greater, based on the total weight of the composition.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the discrete particles are present in the composition in an amount of 20 wt % or greater, based on the total weight of the composition.
8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the discrete particles are present in the composition in an amount of 30 wt % or greater, based on the total weight of the composition.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises an innermost layer and at least one additional layer, and wherein the layer formed from the heterogeneous composition is the innermost layer.
10. A golf ball comprising a layer formed from a heterogeneous composition, the heterogeneous composition comprising:
a thermoplastic polymer matrix, and
discrete particles of a non-halogenated thermoplastic polymer composition dispersed within the matrix,
the non-halogenated thermoplastic polymer composition having a melting point above the processing temperature of the matrix;
wherein the thermoplastic matrix is formed from a composition comprising greater than 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the matrix composition, of a non-ionomeric base resin selected from one or more E/X/Y-type acid copolymers of ethylene, an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, and optionally a softening comonomer.
11. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the non-halogenated polymer has a specific gravity of 1.38 g/cm 3 or less.
12. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the non-halogenated polymer has a specific gravity of 1.31 g/cm 3 or less.
13. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the non-halogenated polymer has a specific gravity of 1.20 g/cm 3 or less.
14. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the discrete particles have a particle size of 0.037 mm or greater.
15. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the golf ball comprises an innermost layer and at least one additional layer, and wherein the layer formed from the heterogeneous composition is the innermost layer.
16. A golf ball comprising a layer formed from a heterogeneous composition, the heterogeneous composition comprising:
a matrix formed from a first thermoplastic composition, and
discrete particles of a second thermoplastic composition dispersed within the matrix,
the second thermoplastic composition having a melting point above the processing temperature of the first thermoplastic composition and comprising a polymer having a specific gravity of 1.45 g/cm 3 or greater.
17. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the discrete particles have a particle size of 0.037 mm or greater.
18. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the discrete particles are present in the composition in an amount of 10 wt % or greater, based on the total weight of the composition.
19. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the first thermoplastic composition comprises from 0 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the first thermoplastic composition, of an ionomer.
20. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the first thermoplastic composition comprises greater than 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the first thermoplastic composition, of a non-ionomeric base resin selected from one or more E/X/Y-type acid copolymers of ethylene, an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, and optionally a softening comonomer.
21. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the golf ball comprises an innermost layer and at least one additional layer, and wherein the layer formed from the heterogeneous composition is the innermost layer.