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 rubber composition; and
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 carbonate ester plasticizer selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, and mixtures thereof; and
a single layer cover;
wherein H outer core surface −H center ≥40.
2. 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 outer core layer composition.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≥50.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≥60.
5. 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.
6. The golf ball of claim 5 , 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 .
7. The golf ball of claim 5 , 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 .