Golf ball utilizing functional polymers
A golf ball that utilizes functional polymers is disclosed herein. The golf ball has at least one of a cover layer or a mantle layer that comprises a first component consisting of a thermoplastic polyurethane or an ionomer, and a second component consisting of a functional polymer in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 80 weight percent of the cover layer or mantle layer.
1 . A golf ball comprising:
a center core;
a mantle layer; and
a cover layer disposed over the mantle layer;
wherein at least one of the cover layer or the mantle layer comprises a first component consisting of a thermoplastic polyurethane, and a second component consisting of a functional polymer in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 80 weight percent of the cover layer or mantle layer, wherein the functionalized polymer has a backbone group consisting of isoprene.
2 . The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an outer core disposed over the center core;
an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.100 inch, the inner mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 25 to 68;
wherein the mantle layer is disposed over the inner mantle layer, the mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.100 inch;
and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the mantle layer, the cover layer has a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.055 inch;
wherein the cover layer has a lower Shore D hardness than the mantle layer, the 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.
3 . The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an outer core disposed over the center core;
an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.100 inch, the inner mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 25 to 68;
the mantle layer disposed over the inner mantle layer, the mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.100 inch, the mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 25 to 68, wherein the inner mantle is thicker than the mantle and the mantle is harder than the inner mantle; and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the mantle layer, the cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.055 inch, wherein the cover layer has a Shore D hardness less than the hardness of the mantle layer, wherein the cover layer has a lower Shore D hardness than the mantle layer, the 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.
4 . The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising:
an outer core disposed over the center core;
an inner mantle layer disposed over the outer core, the inner mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.100 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;
wherein the mantle layer is disposed over the inner mantle layer, the mantle layer having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.100 inch, the mantle layer composed of an ionomer material, the mantle layer material having a plaque Shore D hardness ranging from 50 to 71; and
wherein the cover layer is disposed over the 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 mantle layer, the 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 . A golf ball comprising:
a dual core comprising an inner core and an outer disposed over the inner core;
a mantle layer disposed over the inner core; and
a cover layer disposed over the mantle layer;
wherein at least one of the cover layer or the mantle layer comprises a first component consisting of a thermoplastic polyurethane, and a second component consisting of a functional polymer in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 80 weight percent of the cover layer or mantle layer, wherein the functionalized polymer has a backbone group selected from the group consisting of butadiene and isoprene.
6 . The golf ball according to claim 5 wherein the dual core has a dimeter ranging from 1.4 inches to 1.6 inches.
7 . The golf ball according to claim 5 wherein the outer core comprises polybutadiene and a graphene material.
8 . The golf ball according to claim 5 wherein the inner core has a deflection under a load of 100 kilogram of at least 0.18 inch.