GOLF BALLS HAVING COVERS MADE WITH THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE AND EPOXY BLEND COMPOSITIONS
Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. In one embodiment, the outer cover layer is formed from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and epoxy compound. In another embodiment, the cover composition comprises a reaction product of thermoplastic polyurethane, epoxy-functional compound, and epoxy curing agent. Surface coatings of isocyanates, amines, and imines also can be applied to the cover. The cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives.
1 . A golf ball, comprising:
i) a core having at least one layer; and
ii) an outer cover layer disposed about the core, the outer cover layer comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane composition, the composition comprising a reaction product of thermoplastic polyurethane and epoxy-functional compound.
2 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane is the reaction product of polyisocyanate and polyol compounds and hydroxyl-terminated chain extender, and the polyisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate; 2,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate; toluene 2,4-diisocyanate; toluene 2,6-diisocyanate; 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; p-phenylene diisocyanate; isophorone diisocyanate; 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate; and oligomers and homopolymers and copolymers and blends thereof.
3 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane is the reaction product of polyisocyanate and polyol compounds and hydroxyl-terminated chain extender, and the polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyether polyols, hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, polyester polyols, polycaprolactone polyols, and polycarbonate polyols, and mixtures thereof.
4 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane is the reaction product of polyisocyanate and polyol compounds and hydroxyl-terminated chain extender, and the chain extender is selected from the group consisting of 1,4-butylene glycol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, butanediol, hexanediol, trimethylolpropane, and poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol; and mixtures thereof.
5 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the epoxy-functional compound is selected from the group consisting of glycidyl methacrylate and glycidyl acrylate, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol diglycidyl ether, 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether; and mixtures thereof.
6 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises an inner core and surrounding outer core layer.
7 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the reaction product is of a thermoplastic polyurethane, epoxy-functional compound, and catalyst.
8 . The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of dibutyl tin dilaurate, dibutyl tin acetylacetonate, dibutyl tin dibutoxide, dibutyl tin sulfide, dibutyl tin di-2-ethylhexanoate, dibutyl tin (IV) diacetate, dialkyltin (IV) oxide, tributyl tin laurylmercaptate, dibutyl tin dichloride, organo lead, tetrabutyl titanate, tertiary amines, mercaptides, stannous octoate, potassium octoate, zinc octoate, diazo compounds, and potassium acetate, and mixtures thereof.
9 . A golf ball, comprising:
i) a core having at least one layer; and
ii) an outer cover layer disposed about the core, the outer cover layer comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane composition, the composition comprising a reaction product of thermoplastic polyurethane, epoxy-functional compound, and epoxy curing agent.
10 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the epoxy curing agent is selected from the group consisting of amines, acids, anhydrides, imines, isocyanates, and hydroxyls, and mixtures thereof.
11 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the epoxy-functional compound is selected from the group consisting of glycidyl methacrylate and glycidyl acrylate, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol diglycidyl ether, 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether; and mixtures thereof.
12 . The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the core comprises an inner core and surrounding outer core layer.
13 . The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the epoxy curing agent is an isocyanate selected from the group consisting of 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate; 2,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate; toluene 2,4-diisocyanate; toluene 2,6-diisocyanate; 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; p-phenylene diisocyanate; isophorone diisocyanate; 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate; and oligomers and homopolymers and copolymers and blends thereof.
14 . The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the epoxy curing agent is polyaziridine.
15 . The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the epoxy curing agent is an amine selected from the group consisting of diethylene toluene diamine, mono or di-isopropanolamine, methyl diethanol amine, methylene-bis-chloro diethylaniline, and dimethyl thiotoluene diamine, amino ethyl piperazine, and mixtures thereof.
16 . A golf ball, comprising:
i) a core having at least one layer; and
ii) an outer cover layer disposed about the core, the outer cover layer comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane composition, the composition comprising a reaction product of polyurethane, catalyst, epoxy-functional compound, and epoxy curing agent.
17 . The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of dibutyl tin dilaurate, dibutyl tin acetylacetonate, dibutyl tin dibutoxide, dibutyl tin sulfide, dibutyl tin di-2-ethylhexanoate, dibutyl tin (IV) diacetate, dialkyltin (IV) oxide, tributyl tin laurylmercaptate, dibutyl tin dichloride, organo lead, tetrabutyl titanate, tertiary amines, mercaptides, stannous octoate, potassium octoate, zinc octoate, diazo compounds, and potassium acetate, and mixtures thereof.
18 . The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the epoxy curing agent is an isocyanate selected from the group consisting of 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate; 2,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate; toluene 2,4-diisocyanate; toluene 2,6-diisocyanate; 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; p-phenylene diisocyanate; isophorone diisocyanate; 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate; and oligomers and homopolymers and copolymers and blends thereof.
19 . The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the epoxy-functional compound is selected from the group consisting of glycidyl methacrylate and glycidyl acrylate, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol diglycidyl ether, 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether; and mixtures thereof.
20 . The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the core comprises an inner core and surrounding outer core layer.