Saturated polyurethane compositions and their use in golf balls
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to golf balls having at least one layer formed from a saturated polyurethane composition. The polyurethane is the product of a reaction between an H 12 MDI/PTMEG-based prepolymer and a polycaprolactone curing agent. Golf balls of the present invention include one-piece, two-piece, multi-layer, and wound golf balls. The composition may be present in any one or more of a core layer, a cover layer, or an intermediate layer.
1. A multi-layer golf ball comprising a core, an outer cover layer, and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the outer cover layer, wherein the outer cover layer is formed from a saturated polyurethane composition having a material hardness of at least 50 Shore D, wherein the polyurethane is the product of a reaction between a prepolymer and a polycaprolactone curing agent, the prepolymer consisting essentially of a polyol component and a diisocyanate component, wherein the polyol component consists of polytetramethylene ether glycol and the diisocyanate component consists of bis(4-isocyanatocyclohexyl) methane; wherein the curing agent consists of polycaprolactone and a white dispersion; and wherein the prepolymer and the curing agent are present in a ratio of from 0.5:1 to 16:1.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polycaprolactone curing agent is selected from trimethylol propane-initiated polycaprolactone, diethylene glycol-initiated polycaprolactone, and polycarbonate-initiated polycaprolactone.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polycaprolactone curing agent is trimethylol propane-initiated polycaprolactone.