GOLF BALLS COMPRISING A PLASTICIZED POLYURETHANE LAYER
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein at least one of the core or cover layer comprises a plasticized polyurethane composition comprising at least one polyurethane and at least one plasticizer.
1 . A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the cover comprises:
an inner cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H inner cover , of greater than 60;
an intermediate cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H intermediate cover , of from 20 to 60; and
an outer cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H outer cover , of 55 or less and formed from a composition comprising a polyurethane and from 10 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the outer cover layer composition, of a plasticizer,
wherein H outer cover <H intermediate cover <H inner cover .
2 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol-dibenzoate, ethyl oleate and propylene carbonate.
3 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from 10 wt % to 40 wt %, based on the total weight of the outer cover layer composition.
4 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer cover layer composition is a thermosetting composition.
5 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer cover layer composition is a thermoplastic composition.
6 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate cover layer is formed from an ionomer composition optionally comprising from 2 wt % to 50 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the intermediate cover layer composition.
7 . The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the inner cover layer is formed from an ionomer composition.
8 . The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the inner cover layer is formed from a polyamide composition.
9 . A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the cover comprises:
an inner cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H inner cover , of greater than 60;
an intermediate cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H intermediate cover , of 55 or less; and
an outer cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H outer cover , of from 20 to 60 and formed from a composition comprising a polyurethane and from 10 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the outer cover layer composition, of a plasticizer,
wherein H intermediate cover <H outer cover <H inner cover .
10 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol-dibenzoate, ethyl oleate and propylene carbonate.
11 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from 3 wt % to 40 wt %, based on the total weight of the outer cover layer composition.
12 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the outer cover layer composition is a thermosetting composition.
13 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the outer cover layer composition is a thermoplastic composition.
14 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the intermediate cover layer is formed from an ionomer composition optionally comprising from 2 wt % to 50 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the intermediate cover layer composition.
15 . The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the inner cover layer is formed from an ionomer composition.
16 . The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the inner cover layer is formed from a polyamide composition.