Graphene based golf ball coating
A golf ball with a coating disposed on a cover that is infused with graphene in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 5% based on a dry weight of the paint film is disclosed herein. The coating is preferably based on polyurethane chemistry where hydroxyl functional polymers are cured with polyisocyanate-based hardeners. The coating is preferably applied in a dipping process or a spraying process.
1. A golf ball comprising:
a center core
a cover layer disposed over the center core; and
a coating disposed on the cover that is infused with graphene in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 5% based on a dry weight of the coating further comprising an outer core disposed over the center core and the outer core comprises polybutadiene and a graphene material in an amount ranging from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the outer core.
2. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the cover has a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.045 inch.
3. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch, the inner mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 65 to 71;
an outer mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.070 inch to 0.090 inch;
and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer has a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch;
wherein the cover layer has a lower Shore D hardness than the outer mantle layer, the outer mantle layer has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer, the textured outer core has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer and the center core.
4. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.090 inch, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 50;
an outer mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.070 inch, the outer mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 71, wherein the inner mantle is thicker than the outer mantle and the outer mantle is harder than the inner mantle; and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.050 inch, wherein the cover layer has a Shore D hardness less than the hardness of the outer mantle layer, wherein the cover layer has a lower Shore D hardness than the outer mantle layer, the outer mantle layer has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer, the outer core has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer and the center core.
5. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.070 inch to 0.090 inch, the inner mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 36 to 44;
an outer mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch, the outer mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the outer mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 65 to 71; and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch;
wherein the cover layer has a lower Shore D hardness than the outer mantle layer, the outer mantle layer has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer, the outer core has a higher Shore D hardness than the inner mantle layer and the center core.
6. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 40, the inner mantle layer composed of a composed of an ionomer material;
a first center mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the first center mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the first center mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 40 to 55, the first center mantle layer composed of a fully neutralized polymer material;
a second center mantle layer disposed over the second center mantle layer, the second center mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the second center mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 45 to 55, the second center mantle layer composed of a fully neutralized polymer material;
an outer mantle layer disposed over the second center mantle layer, the outer mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.050 inch, the outer mantle layer composed of a composed of an ionomer material, the outer mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 60 to 75; and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the outer mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.040 inch.
7. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the coating is based on polyurethane chemistry where hydroxyl functional polymers are cured with polyisocyanate-based hardeners.
8. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the coating is a two-part coating.
9. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the coating is water or solvent based.
10. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the coating is applied in multiple layers.
11. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the coating is clear or pigmented with titanium dioxide or calcium carbonate.
12. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the coating is based on an epoxy amine.
13. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the coating is applied in a dipping process or a spraying process.
14. A golf ball comprising:
an inner core;
a outer core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material in an amount ranging from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the outer core;
a mantle layer;
a cover;
a coating disposed on the cover that is infused with graphene in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 5% based on a dry weight of the coating.
15. A golf ball comprising:
an inner core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material in an amount ranging from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the inner core;
a textured outer core comprising a polybutadiene and a graphene material in an amount ranging from 0.4 to 2.5 weight percent of the outer core;
a mantle layer;
a cover;
a coating disposed on the cover that is infused with graphene in an amount ranging from 0.01% to 5% based on a dry weight of the coating.