Golf ball comprising UV-cured non-surface layer

1. A golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, wherein the intermediate layer is formed from a composition comprising:

a polymer component having at least one ultraviolet-light curable moiety, wherein the polymer component is present in an amount of about 50 percent to about 99 percent by weight of the composition; and

an initiator,

wherein the polymer component comprises uncured ethylene copolymer rubber, uncured acrylate rubber, uncured elastomeric copolymers of a diene and an unsaturated nitrile, or combinations thereof.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness of about 30 Shore D or greater.

3. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the hardness is about 50 Shore D or greater.

4. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the hardness is about 55 Shore D to 65 Shore D.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the initiator is selected from the group consisting of benzophenone and derivatives thereof, acetophenone, benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin butyl ether, acyloin, alkyloin ether, Michler's ketone, xanthone, thioxanthone, propriophenone, fluorenone, carbazole, diethoxyacetophenone, 2-, 3-, and 4-methylacetophenone, 2-, 3-, and 4-methoxy-acetophenone, 2- and 3-chloroxanthones, 2- and 3-chlorothioxanthones, 2-acetyl-4-methylphenylacetate, 2,2′-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, benzaldehyde, fluorene, anthraquinone, triphenylamine, 3- and 4-allylacetophenone, p-diacetylbenzene, 3-chloro-2-nonylxanthone, 2-chlorobenzophenone, 4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-chloro-4′-methylbenzophenone, 4-chloro-4′-methylbenzophenone, 3-methylbenzophenone, 4-tertbutylbenzophenone, isobutyl ether-benzoic acetate, bezilic acid, amino benzoate, methyl blue, 2,2-diethoxyacetophenone, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, 2-methyl anthraquinone, 2-ethyl anthraquinone, 1-tert-butyl anthraquinone, 1,4-napthaquinone, 2-isopropylthioxanthone, 2-methylthioxanthone, 2-decylthioxanthone, 2-dodecylthioxanthone, oligo(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-(4-(1-methylvinyl)phenyl)propanone), 2,4,6-trimethylbenzophenone, 4-methylbenzophenone, 2,2-dimethoxy-1,2-diphenylethanone, 2-butoxy-1,2-diphenylethanone, 2-(2-methyl propoxy)-1,2-diphenylethanone, alpha hydroxy ketones, and combinations thereof.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the initiator is present in an amount of about 0.05 percent to about 10 percent by weight of the composition.

7. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core comprises a center and an outer core layer, wherein the outer core layer has a hardness of about 50 Shore D or greater and is formed from a radiation-curable composition comprising:

a polymer component having at least one ultraviolet-light curable moiety; and

a photoinitiator;

wherein the polymer component is present in an amount of 50 percent to 99 percent by weight of the composition, and comprises alkyl acrylates; hydroxyl alkyl acrylates; hydroxy acrylates; methacrylates; silicone containing compounds; vinyl caprolactans; vinyl ethers; vinyl ether esters; vinyl ether acrylates; vinyl ether silicones; urethane acrylates; urethane methacrylates; epoxy acrylates; epoxy silicones; styrenes; ethers; allylic alcohols; epoxies; allylic glycidyl ethers; acyl halides; isocyanates; or mixtures thereof.

8. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the hardness of the center is about 30 to about 65 Shore D.

9. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the photoinitiator comprises benzophenone and derivatives thereof, acetophenone, benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin butyl ether, acyloin, alkyloin ether, Michler's ketone, xanthone, thioxanthone, propriophenone, fluorenone, carbazole, diethoxyacetophenone, 2-, 3-, and 4-methylacetophenone, 2-, 3-, and 4-methoxy-acetophenone, 2- and 3-chloroxanthones, 2- and 3-chlorothioxanthones, 2-acetyl-4-methylphenylacetate, 2,2′-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone, benzaldehyde, fluorene, anthraquinone, triphenylamine, 3- and 4-allylacetophenone, p-diacetylbenzene, 3-chloro-2-nonylxanthone, 2-chlorobenzophenone, 4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-chloro-4′-methylbenzophenone, 4-chloro-4′-methylbenzophenone, 3-methylbenzophenone, 4-tertbutylbenzophenone, isobutyl ether-benzoic acetate, bezilic acid, amino benzoate, methyl blue, 2,2-diethoxyacetophenone, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, 2-methyl anthraquinone, 2-ethyl anthraquinone, 1-tert-butyl anthraquinone, 1,4-napthaquinone, 2-isopropylthioxanthone, 2-methylthioxanthone, 2-decylthioxanthone, 2-dodecylthioxanthone, oligo(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-(4-(1-methylvinyl)phenyl)propanone), 2,4,6-trimethylbenzophenone, 4-methylbenzophenone, 2,2-dimethoxy-1,2-diphenylethanone, 2-butoxy-1,2-diphenylethanone, 2-(2-methyl propoxy)-1,2-diphenylethanone, alpha hydroxy ketones, or combinations thereof.

10. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the photoinitiator is present in an amount of about 0.05 percent to about 10 percent by weight of the composition.

11. A golf ball comprising an inner ball and a cover disposed about the inner ball, wherein the inner ball comprises a center and an intermediate layer disposed about the center, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a radiation-curable composition comprising:

a polymer component having at least one ultraviolet-light curable moiety;

wherein the polymer component is present in an amount of 50 percent to 99 percent by weight of the composition, and comprises alkyl acrylates; hydroxyl alkyl acrylates; hydroxy acrylates; methacrylates; silicone containing compounds; vinyl caprolactans; vinyl ethers; vinyl ether esters; vinyl ether acrylates; vinyl ether silicones; urethane acrylates; urethane methacrylates; epoxy acrylates; epoxy silicones; styrenes; ethers; allylic alcohols; epoxies; allylic glycidyl ethers; acyl halides; isocyanates; or mixtures thereof;

at least one elongation promoter; and

a photoinitiator,

wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness of about 50 Shore D or greater, and

wherein the cover is formed from a polyurethane, polyurea, or a mixture thereof.

12. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the radiation-curable composition further comprises at least one visible light initiator.

13. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the radiation-curable composition further comprises at least one reactive diluent.

14. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the radiation-curable composition further comprises at least one multifunctional acrylic or methacrylic crosslinking agent.

15. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the radiation-curable composition further comprises at least one non-reactive or heat curable component.

16. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the at least one elongation promoter comprises a sulfur-containing compound, a thiol-containing compound, or a compound comprising a mixture of sulfur and thiol groups.

17. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the at least one elongation promoter is present in an amount of about 10 percent or less by weight of the radiation-curable composition.

18. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the at least one elongation promoter comprises sulfur, mercapto groups, or a combination thereof.