Ionomers in Golf Balls
Ionomers have been widely used as cover materials for golf balls. Ionomers are ionic copolymers of an olefin such as ethylene with an unsaturated carboxylic acid such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or maleic acid, in which some of the acid groups are neutralized with metal ions such as sodium, lithium, zinc or magnesium. These resins provide excellent characteristics in terms of durability, rebound resilience and scuff resistance of the ball. At present, the base resins used in golf ball cover materials are generally ionomeric resins, but various improvements are being made to cope with the constant desire by players for golf balls having a high rebound resilience and an excellent flight performance.
(Egashira and Takehana, US Patent 7,803,874, 9/28/2010)
Recent US Patents
9/28/2010
7,803,874
Golf ball material, golf ball and method for preparing golf ball material
Egashira and Takehana of Bridgestone, Japan developed an ionomer material based on the coexsistence of different metal ions. This improves thermal stability, flow and processability, making it suitable for injection-molding. (RDC 12/9/20100
8/31/2010
7,785,216
Golf balls including mechanically hybridized layers and methods of making same
Herbert, Sullivan and Ladd of Acushnet have improved the durability of golf balls by increasing adhesion between layers such as an ionomer layer in contact with polyurethane/polyurea layers. This adhesion is enhanced by mechanically hybridizing theme by foaming. (RDC 11/5/2010)
8/17/2010
7,775,908
Golf balls having two core layers formed from HNP compositions
Sullivan et al of Acushnet have developed a golf ball based on a core containing layers of soft highly neutralized ionomer (ethylene/meth acrylic acid /alkyl meth acrylate copolymer and layers of hard highly neutralized ionomer (ethylene/meth acrylic acid copolymer. (RDC 11/5/2010)
8/3/2010
7,767,759
Composition for use in golf balls
Kim of Taylor Made Golf Company has developed a blend of polymers for golf balls based on three components, (A) ethylene /meth acrylic acid copolymer, (B) amine/acid compounds and (C) basic metal salt. (RDC 11/5/2010)