Golf ball with vapor barrier layer and method of making same

1. A golf ball comprising a cover layer encasing a subassembly, the subassembly comprising a barrier layer encasing a core, wherein the barrier layer is formed from a composition comprising a filler dispersed in a liquid or solvent-borne elastomeric polymer of multi-olefin, iso-olefin, or a combination thereof;

wherein the filler is selected from a group consisting of leafing aluminum, mica flakes, micaceous iron oxide flakes, aluminum flakes, ceramic flakes, graphite flakes, and mixtures thereof; and

wherein the elastomeric polymer is halogenated, and comprises at least one of the following:

less than about 3% reactive halogen;

less than about 1 halogen atom per double bond;

a benzylic bromine functionality; or

a branched styrenic block,

wherein the subassembly has a Shore D hardness of less than about 60.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the multi-olefin is conjugated.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the multi-olefin has about 4 to about 14 carbon atoms.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the iso-olefin has about 4 to about 7 carbon atoms.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric polymer is halogenated, sulfonated, or both.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one polymer selected from a group consisting of vinylidene chloride polymers, double-bond vulcanizable rubber, and ionomers.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a moisture vapor transmission rate of about 0.001 grams·mm/m 2 ·day to about 0.6 grams·mm/m 2 ·day.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a dynamically vulcanizable thermoplastic elastomer blend adhesive to diene rubbers.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer has a molecular weight of about 5,000 to about 500,000.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the composition forms a tortuous path against moisture vapor encroachment.

11. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the composition is cured by infra red radiation or a combination of infra red and ultra violet radiations.

12. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises about 30% to about 0.2% of the multi-olefin and about 70% to about 99.8% by weight of the iso-olefin.

13. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is amorphous and non-polar.

14. A golf ball comprising a cover layer encasing a subassembly, the subassembly comprising a barrier layer encasing a core, wherein the barrier layer is formed from a composition comprising a filler dispersed in a liquid or solvent-borne polymer of multi-olefin, iso-olefin, or a combination thereof, wherein the polymer comprises branched styrenic blocks, and wherein the subassembly has a Shore D hardness of less than about 60.

15. A golf ball comprising a cover layer encasing a subassembly, the subassembly comprising a barrier layer encasing a core, wherein the barrier layer is formed from a composition comprising a filler dispersed in a liquid or solvent-borne polymer of multi-olefin, iso-olefin, or a combination thereof, wherein the polymer is a highly paraffinic hydrocarbon polymer composed on long straight chain molecules containing only chain-end olefinic bonds, wherein the subassembly has a Shore D hardness of greater than about 50.

16. A golf ball comprising a cover layer encasing a subassembly, the subassembly comprising a barrier layer encasing a core, wherein the baffler layer is formed from a composition comprising a filler dispersed in a liquid or solvent-borne elastomeric polymer of multi-olefin, iso-olefin, or a combination thereof;

wherein the filler is selected from a group consisting of leafing aluminum, mica flakes, micaceous iron oxide flakes, aluminum flakes, ceramic flakes, graphite flakes, and mixtures thereof; and

wherein the elastomeric polymer is halogenated, and comprises at least one of the following:

less than about 3% reactive halogen;

less than about 1 halogen atom per double bond;

a benzylic bromine functionality; or

a branched styrenic block,

wherein the subassembly has a Shore D hardness of greater than about 50.