Interior clay coatings for golf balls
A golf ball with a clay coating disposed an interior surface of the golf ball and a method is disclosed herein. The clay coating is preferably a nano-clay coating which is deposited on a core surface or a mantle surface of the golf ball. The nano-clay coating is preferably dispersed into the interior layer.
1. A method for forming a clay coating on an interior layer of a golf ball, the method comprising:
dispersing an unmodified hydrophilic nano-clay into water to create a nano-clay solution;
depositing the nano-clay solution onto a surface of an interior layer of an unfinished golf ball to create a deposited interior layer surface;
evaporating a solvent from the deposited interior layer to create an evaporated deposited interior layer; and
forming a layer over the evaporated deposited interior layer.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the interior layer is a core layer.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the interior layer is a mantle layer.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the interior layer is an outer core layer.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein depositing the nano-clay solution onto a surface of an interior layer of an unfinished golf ball comprises spraying the nano-clay solution onto a surface of an interior layer of an unfinished golf ball.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein depositing the nano-clay solution onto a surface of an interior layer of a golf ball comprises dipping the unfinished golf ball into a container of the nano-clay solution.
7. A method for forming a clay coating on an interior layer of a golf ball, the method comprising:
dispersing an organically modified nano-clay into an organic solvent to create a nano-clay solution;
depositing the nano-clay solution onto a surface of an interior layer of an unfinished golf ball to create a deposited interior layer surface;
evaporating a solvent from the deposited interior layer to create an evaporated deposited interior layer; and
forming a layer over the evaporated deposited interior layer.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the organic solvent is acetone or butyl acetate.
9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the nano-clay is modified with an organic molecule selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, epoxy, amine, silane, carboxylic acid groups and hydrocarbons.
10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the interior layer is an outer core layer, a mantle layer or a center core layer.
11. The method according to claim 7 wherein depositing the nano-clay solution onto a surface of an interior layer of an unfinished golf ball comprises spraying the nano-clay solution onto a surface of an interior layer of an unfinished golf ball.
12. The method according to claim 7 wherein depositing the nano-clay solution onto a surface of an interior layer of a golf ball comprises dipping the unfinished golf ball into a container of the nano-clay solution.