Monodisperse telechelic diol-based polyurethanes for use in golf balls
View Patent ↗A golf ball including a core and a cover layer including a curing agent and a polyurethane prepolymer formed from a polyisocyanate and a monodisperse telechelic polyol having a polydispersity of from about 1.0 to about 1.3, and having the formula: T-Z n -C-Y-C-Z n -T where Y is at least one molecule or mixtures of molecules having at least two independently polymerized vinyl groups, such as 1,3-divinylbenzene or 1,4-divinylbenzene; C is a hydrogenated or unsaturated block derived by anionic polymerization of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of conjugated dienes, alkenyl-substituted aromatics, and mixtures thereof; Z n is a branched or straight chain hydrocarbon connecting group which contains n=1–50 carbon atoms; and T is hydroxyl.
1. A golf ball comprising:
a core; and
a cover layer comprising a curing agent and a polyurethane prepolymer formed from a polyisocyanate and a monodisperse telechelic polyol having a polydispersity of from about 1.0 to about 1.3, and having the formula:
T-Z n -C-Y-C-Z n -T
where Y is at least one molecule or mixtures of molecules having at least two independently polymerized vinyl groups;
C is a hydrogenated or unsaturated block derived by anionic polymerization of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of conjugated dienes, alkenyl-substituted aromatics, and mixtures thereof;
Z n is a branched or straight chain hydrocarbon connecting group which contains n=1–50 carbon atoms; and
T is hydroxyl.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a polybutadiene composition and the salt of a halogenated thiophenol.
3. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the salt of a halogenated thiophenol comprises the zinc salt of pentachlorothiophenol.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyisocyanate comprises toluene diisocyanate; 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate; polymeric 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate; carbodiimide-modified 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate; 3,3′-dimethyldiphenyl-4,4′ diisocyanate; naphthalene diisocyanate; p-phenylene diisocyanate; xylene diisocyanate; p-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate; m-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate; ethylene diisocyanate; propylene-1,2-diisocyanate; tetramethylene-1,4-diisocyanate; cyclohexyl diisocyanate; 1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate; dodecane-1,12-diisocyanate; cyclobutane-1,3-diisocyanate; cyclohexane-1,3-diisocyanate; cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate; 1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane; isophorone diisocyanate; methyl cyclohexylene diisocyanate; triisocyanate of 1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate; triisocyanate of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexane diisocyanate; triisocyanate of 2,4,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexane diisocyanate; 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; or trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the monodisperse telechelic polyol has a polydispersity of from about 1.0 to about 1.1.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover has a thickness of less than about 0.05 inches and the core has a compression of between about 50 and about 90.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core outer diameter is between about 1.50 inches and about 1.62 inches.
8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of greater than about 0.8.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of greater than about 0.81.
10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein C comprises hydrogenated isoprene having a peak molecular weight of from about 500 to about 350,000.
11. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a center and an outer core layer.
12. A golf ball comprising:
a core;
an intermediate layer; and
a cover comprising a curing agent and a polyurethane prepolymer formed from a polyisocyanate and a monodisperse telechelic polyol having a polydispersity of between about 1.0 and about 1.3, and having the formula:
T-Z n -C-Y-C-Z n -T
where Y is at least one molecule or mixtures of molecules having at least two independently polymerized vinyl groups;
C is a hydrogenated or unsaturated block derived by anionic polymerization of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of conjugated dienes, alkenyl-substituted aromatics, and mixtures thereof;
Z n is a branched or straight chain hydrocarbon connecting group which contains n=1–50 carbon atoms; and
T is hydroxyl.
13. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the intermediate layer is an inner cover layer, an outer core layer, or a water vapor barrier layer.
14. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the intermediate layer is an inner cover layer, and the inner cover layer and the cover each have a thickness of less than about 0.05 inches.
15. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises the monodisperse telechelic polyol or a monodisperse telechelic polyurea.
16. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises ionomers, vinyl resins; polyolefins; polyurethanes; polyureas; polyamides; polycarbonates; acrylic resins; thermoplastics; polyphenylene oxides; thermoplastic polyesters; thermoplastic rubbers; or highly-neutralized polymers.
17. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein C comprises hydrogenated isoprene having a peak molecular weight of from about 500 to about 350,000.
18. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the monodisperse telechelic polyol has a polydispersity of from about 1.0 to about 1.1.
19. A golf ball comprising:
a core;
an intermediate layer; and
a cover;
wherein at least one of the intermediate layer or the cover comprises a curing agent and a polyurethane prepolymer formed from a polyisocyanate and a monodisperse telechelic polyol having a polydispersity of between about 1.0 and about 1.3 and having the formula:
T-Z n -C-Y-C-Z n -T
where Y is at least one molecule or mixtures of molecules having at least two independently polymerized vinyl groups:
C is a hydrogenated or unsaturated block derived by anionic polymerization of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of conjugated dienes, alkenyl-substituted aromatics, and mixtures thereof;
Z n is a branched or straight chain hydrocarbon connecting group which contains n =1–50 carbon atoms: and
T is hydroxyl.
20. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the intermediate layer is a water vapor barrier layer and having a thickness of from about 0.1 μm to about 75 μm.
21. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the monodisperse telechelic polyol has a polydispersity of between about 1.0 and about 1.1.
22. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the core has an outer diameter of no greater than about 1.62 inches.
23. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the intermediate layer is an inner cover layer having a hardness of between about 40 and about 75 Shore D; and the cover is an outer cover layer having a hardness of between about 30 and about 60 Shore D.
24. The golf ball of claim 23 , wherein the inner cover layer has a flexural modulus of between about 30,000 and about 80,000 psi and the cover has a flexural modulus of between about 10,000 and about 30,000 psi.