Golf ball with thin moisture vapor barrier layer

1. A golf ball comprising an outer cover layer encasing a subassembly, the subassembly comprising a barrier layer encasing a core, wherein the barrier layer is formed from a composition comprising graphene, wherein the barrier layer has a thickness of about 0.2 to 3 nanometers.

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

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the subassembly has a Shore D hardness of less than about 60.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer has a first moisture vapor transmission rate, the cover has a second moisture vapor transmission rate, and wherein the first moisture vapor transmission rate is less than the second.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first moisture vapor transmission rate is less than about 10 −1 grams·mm/m 2 ·day at 38° C. and 90% relative humidity.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is disposed immediately about the core.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is disposed between the core and the cover layer.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer has a thickness of about 0.3 to 2 nanometers.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core is a solid core having a diameter of at least about 1.5 inch.

10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the solid core has a diameter of at least about 1.55 inches.

11. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover layer has a thickness of about 0.010 inches to about 0.080 inches.

12. A golf ball comprising an outer cover layer encasing a subassembly, the subassembly comprising a core, and a barrier layer disposed about the cover layer, wherein the barrier layer is formed from a composition comprising graphene, wherein the barrier layer has a thickness of about 0.2 to 3 nanometers.

13. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the barrier layer has a thickness of about 0.3 to 2 nanometers.

14. A method of providing a barrier layer in a golf ball, the golf ball comprising an outer cover layer encasing a subassembly comprising the barrier layer encasing a golf ball component having a core, wherein the barrier layer is formed according to the following method:

forming an aqueous solution containing graphene;

coating the golf ball component in the aqueous solution; and

allowing the solvent to evaporate.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of forming the aqueous solution containing graphene further comprises the steps of:

oxidizing graphite to graphite oxide;

exfoliating the graphite oxide in water by sonication to obtain graphene oxide colloids; and

converting graphene oxide colloids to conducting graphene colloids through deoxygenation by solvent reduction.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the solvent is hydrazine.