Golf ball layers having improved barrier properties
A golf ball comprising a core having an outer diameter of about 1.50 inches to about 1.62 inches; a cover comprising polyurethanes, polyureas, polyurea-urethanes, polyurethane-ureas, or a combination thereof; and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer having a thickness of about 0.005 inches to about 0.030 inches and comprising a matrix polymer and a barrier component comprising a physical barrier to moisture transmission and a chemical barrier to moisture transmission.
1 . A golf ball comprising:
a core having an outer diameter of about 1.50 inches to about 1.62 inches;
a cover comprising polyurethanes, polyureas, polyurea-urethanes, polyurethane-ureas, or a combination thereof; and
an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer having a thickness of about 0.005 inches to about 0.030 inches and comprising a matrix polymer and a barrier component comprising a physical barrier to moisture transmission and a chemical barrier to moisture transmission.
2 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate that is lower than that of the cover.
3 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the matrix polymer comprises polyurethanes, polyureas, polyurea-urethanes, polyurethane-ureas, ionomers, polyethylene acrylic or methacrylic acid copolymers, or a combination thereof.
4 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a center and an outer core layer.
5 . The golf ball of claim 4 , wherein the outer core layer has a thickness of about 0.05 inches to about 0.15 inches.
6 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of about 0.010 inches to about 0.025 inches.
7 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover has a thickness of about 0.010 inches to about 0.050 inches.
8 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the barrier component comprises an intercalated organoclay chemically-modified with an ammonium compound, a phosphonium compound, a sulfonium compound, or a combination thereof to provide the chemical barrier to moisture transmission.
10 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the barrier component comprises a compound having the formula:
where M comprises nitrogen, phosphorous, or sulfur;
where X − comprises an anionic counterion; and
where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 comprise hydrogen, an organic moiety, or an oligomeric organic moiety.
11 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.4 g·mm/m 2 ·day.
12 . A golf ball comprising:
a core;
a cover; and
an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer having a thickness of about 0.005 inches to about 0.030 inches and being formed from a matrix polymer and a barrier component, the barrier component comprising a physical barrier to moisture transmission, and being chemically-modified with an ammonium compound, a phosphonium compound, a sulfonium compound, or a combination thereof to provide a chemical barrier to moisture transmission.
13 . A golf ball comprising:
a core having an outer diameter of about 1.50 inches to about 1.62 inches, the core comprising a center and an outer core layer;
a cover comprising polyurethanes, polyureas, polyurea-urethanes, polyurethane-ureas, or a combination thereof; and
an intermediate layer having a thickness of about 0.005 inches to about 0.030 inches disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer comprising:
a matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyurea-urethanes, polyurethane-ureas, and ionomers; and
a barrier component comprising a physical barrier to moisture transmission and a chemical barrier to moisture transmission, wherein the barrier component comprises a compound having the formula:
where M comprises nitrogen, phosphorous, or sulfur;
where X − comprises an anionic counterion; and
where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 comprise hydrogen, an organic moiety, or an oligomeric organic moiety.