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 three-layer golf ball consisting essentially of:
an inner core layer having a diameter of 1.10 inches or less, a center Shore C hardness (H center ) of from 10 to 50, and formed from a composition comprising a polyurethane and from 2 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the inner core layer composition, of a plasticizer;
an outer core layer having a thickness of 0.200 inches or greater, an outer surface Shore C hardness (H outer core surface ) of from 70 to 95, and formed from a thermoplastic composition; and
a single layer cover;
wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧40.
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 3 wt % to 40 wt %, based on the total weight of the inner core layer composition.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧50.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧60.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H inner core interface ) such that −5≦H inner core interface −H center ≦5.
7. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface ≦H outer core surface −H center .
8. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface >H outer core surface −H center .
9. A three-layer golf ball consisting essentially of:
an inner core layer having a diameter of 1.10 inches or less, a center Shore C hardness (H center ) of from 10 to 50, and formed from a thermoplastic composition;
an outer core layer having a thickness of 0.200 inches or greater, an outer surface Shore C hardness (H outer core surface ) of from 70 to 95, and formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising a polyurethane and from 2 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the outer core layer composition, of a plasticizer; and
a single layer cover;
wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧40.
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 core layer composition.
12. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧50.
13. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧60.
14. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the inner core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H inner core interface ) such that −5≦H inner core interface −H center ≦5.
15. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface ≦H outer core surface −H center .
16. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface >H outer core surface −H center .
17. A three-layer golf ball consisting essentially of:
an inner core layer having a diameter of 1.10 inches or less, a center Shore C hardness (H center ) of from 10 to 40, and formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising a polyurethane and from 2 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the inner core layer composition, of a plasticizer;
an outer core layer having a thickness of 0.200 inches or greater, an outer surface Shore C hardness (H outer core surface ) of from 75 to 95, and formed from a thermoset composition; and
a single layer cover;
wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧50.
18. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol-dibenzoate, ethyl oleate and propylene carbonate.
19. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from 3 wt % to 40 wt %, based on the total weight of the inner core layer composition.
20. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧60.
21. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧70.
22. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein the inner core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H inner core interface ) such that −5≦H inner core interface −H center ≦5.
23. The golf ball of claim 22 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface ≦H outer core surface −H center .
24. The golf ball of claim 22 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface >H outer core surface −H center .