POLYUREA COVERS FOR GOLF BALLS BASED ON CYCLOALIPHATIC ISOCYANATES
A golf ball having a cover material made from a polyurea composition is provided. In one version, the golf ball includes a polybutadiene core and surrounding cover layer made of a polyurea composition. In another version, the golf ball includes a polybutadiene core, an intermediate casing layer made of an ionomer resin, and outer cover layer made of the polyurea composition. The polyurea composition is the reaction product of a cycloaliphatic isocyanate and amine compound. The diisocyanate is selected from 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane; 1,4-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane; and mixtures thereof. The resulting cover material has many advantages including improved durability, toughness, and light-stability.
1 . A golf ball, comprising:
a core; and
a polyurea cover material produced by a reaction of ingredients comprising an isocyanate selected from the group consisting of 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane; 1,4-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane; and mixtures thereof; an amine-terminated compound; and amine cross-linking agent.
2 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the isocyanate is 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane.
3 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the isocyanate is 1,4-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane.
4 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises polybutadiene.
5 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the curing agent is an amine-terminated curing agent selected from the group consisting of 4,4′-diamino-diphenylmethane; 3,5-diethyl-(2,4- or 2,6-)toluenediamine; 3,5-dimethylthio-(2,4- or 2,6-)toluenediamine; 3,5-diethylthio-(2,4- or 2,6-)toluenediamine: 2,2′-dichloro-3,3′,5,5′-tetraethyl-4,4′-diamino-diphenylmethane; polytetramethyleneglycol-di(p-aminobenzoate); 4,4′-bis(sec-butylamino)-dicyclohexylmethane; and mixtures thereof.
6 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyurea cover material further comprises pigments and fillers.
7 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has a diameter of about 1.26 to about 1.60 inches.
8 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover has a thickness of about 0.015 to about 0.090 inches.
9 . The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the cover has a thickness of about 0.020 to about 0.050 inches.
10 . The golf ball of claim 8 , wherein the cover has a thickness of about 0.020 to about 0.035 inches.
11 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has a surface hardness in the range of about 30 to about 65 Shore D.
12 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover has a material hardness of about 30 to about 65 Shore D.
13 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the cover has a material hardness of about 35 to about 55 Shore D.
14 . A golf ball, comprising:
a core;
an intermediate casing layer overlying the core; and
a polyurea cover material produced by a reaction of ingredients comprising an isocyanate selected from the group consisting of 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane; 1,4-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane; and mixtures thereof; an amine-terminated compound; and amine cross-linking agent.
15 . The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the isocyanate is 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane.
16 . The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the isocyanate is 1,4-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane.
17 . The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the core comprises polybutadiene.
18 . The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the polyurea cover material further comprises pigments and fillers.
19 . The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises an ionomer resin.
20 . The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises a blend of ionomer and non-ionomer resins.