Polyalkenamer compositions and golf balls prepared therefrom
A golf ball that includes (a) a core comprising a center; (b) an outer cover layer; and (c) one or more intermediate layers; wherein at least one of the core or the intermediate layer comprises a composition that includes (i) at least one polyalkenamer and at least one ionomer. A method for making a golf ball comprising a core, one or more intermediate layers and an outer cover layer is also disclosed, wherein the method includes forming a blend comprising at least one polyalkenamer rubber and at least one ionomer; and injection molding the blend into a spherical mold to form the intermediate or outer cover layer.
1. A golf ball comprising:
(a) a core comprising a center;
(b) an outer cover layer; and
(c) one or more intermediate layers;
wherein at least one of the core or the intermediate layer comprises;
i) a composition that includes at least one polyalkenamer containing of from about 50 to about 99 percent of its double bonds in the trans-configuration, and having a molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 300,000, and a degree of crystallization from about 5 to about 70%,
ii) a first peroxide cross-linking agent having a first characteristic decomposition temperature less than 150° C.,
iii) a second peroxide cross-linking agent having a second characteristic decomposition temperature greater than 150° C., and
iv) at least one ionomer.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyalkenamer comprises a polyoctenamer and wherein the composition weight ratio of the at least one cross-linking agent having the first characteristic decomposition temperature to the at least one cross-linking agent having the second characteristic decomposition temperature can range from 5:95 to 95:5.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises polybutadiene, and the outer cover layer comprises polyurethane.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has three intermediate layers.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the ionomer is selected from the group consisting of unimodal ionomer, bimodal ionomer, modified unimodal ionomer, and modified bimodal ionomer.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the ionomer comprises a copolymer of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid or a terpolymer of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylate.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the ionomer has a general formula of E/X/Y polymer, wherein E is ethylene, X is a C 3 to C 8 α,β ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and Y is a softening comonomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylate and alkyl methacrylate.
8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein acid groups present in the ionomer are at least partially neutralized with a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, and combinations thereof.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein at least one intermediate layer comprises a composition that includes at least one polyalkenamer and at least one ionomer.
10. A method for making a golf ball comprising a core, one or more intermediate layers and an outer cover layer, wherein said method comprises the steps of;
(a) forming a blend consisting essentially of
i) at least one polyalkenamer,
ii) a first peroxide cross-linking agent having a first characteristic decomposition temperature less than 150° C.,
iii) a second peroxide cross-linking agent having a second characteristic decomposition temperature greater than 150° C., and
iv) at least one ionomer, and
(b) injection molding the blend of step (a) into a spherical mold to form the an intermediate or outer cover layer.