Golf balls having chromogenic polymers in one or more layers
A golf ball includes a core, a cover layer, and a chromogenic polymer incorporated into at least one of the cover layer or a coating layer applied to the cover layer. The chromogenic polymer causes the golf ball to exhibit a color-shift effect upon application of an external stimulus. The color-shift effect can be measured as a deltaE of greater than 2 when the external stimulus is within a target range. The external stimulus may be different depending on the type of chromogenic polymer, and, as a result, the target range depends on the type of external stimulus.
1. A golf ball comprising:
a core;
a cover layer; and
a chromogenic polymer incorporated into at least one of the cover layer or a coating layer applied to the cover layer;
wherein the chromogenic polymer causes the golf ball to exhibit a color-shift effect upon application of a change of pressure,
wherein the color-shift effect can be measured as a deltaE of greater than 2 when the change of pressure is within a target range.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the chromogenic polymer is mechanochromic or piezochromic and wherein the color-shift effect can be measured as a deltaE of 10 or more when the change of pressure is within the target range.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the chromogenic layer is the cover layer of the golf ball, wherein the cover layer comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the chromogenic polymer is incorporated into the coating layer applied to the cover layer, wherein the coating layer comprises isocyanate.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the color-shift effect comprises a shift between different opaque colors.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the color-shift effect comprises a shift between a transmissive state and opaque.
7. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the transmissive state is transparent.
8. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the transmissive state is translucent.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the color-shift effect comprises a shift between a transmissive state and another transmissive state.
10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the transmissive state is transparent and the another transmissive state is translucent.
11. A golf ball comprising:
a core;
a cover layer
a chromogenic polymer incorporated into at least one of the cover layer or a coating layer applied to the cover layer;
wherein the chromogenic polymer causes the golf ball to exhibit a color-shift effect upon application of pressure in the form of a strike by a golf club,
wherein the color-shift effect is localized to a location on the golf ball at which the golf ball is struck by a golf club and can be measured as a deltaE of greater than 5 when the application of pressure is within a target range.
12. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the color-shift effect can be measured as a deltaE of at least 10 when the application of pressure is within the target range.
13. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the color-shift effect comprises a change from a transmissive state to opaque.
14. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the color-shift effect comprises a shift between different opaque colors.
15. A golf ball comprising:
a core;
a cover layer; and
a chromogenic coating layer applied to the cover layer;
wherein the chromogenic coating layer causes the golf ball to exhibit a color-shift effect upon application of a change of pressure.
16. The golf ball of claim 15 , wherein the cover layer is opaque.
17. The golf ball of claim 15 , wherein the color-shift effect can be measured as a deltaE of at least 10 when the change of pressure is within a target range.