Acushnet Company

Michael Michalewich

Brian Comeau

Michael J Sullivan

Shawn Ricci

Mark L Binette

Douglas S Goguen

Derek A Ladd

Manjari Kuntimaddi

John D Farrell

Michael R Madson

Matthew F Hogge

David A Bulpett

Nicholas M Nardacci

Doug Goguen

Murali Rajagopalan

Erin C McDermott

Dennis Britton

Timothy S Correia

Peter L Serdahl

Mark L Binnette

Thermoplastic and thermoset compositions including hydroxyurethane linkages, golf ball components formed using such thermoplastic or thermoset compositions, and golf balls including such golf components.

Golf ball components formed from hydroxyurethane compositions

Coating compositions including hydroxyurethane linkages, coating layers formed from such coating compositions, and golf balls including such coating layers.

Golf ball coatings formed from hydroxyurethane 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 polydimethylsiloxane compound. Functionalized polydimethylsiloxane compounds also can be used to treat thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers. The cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)—light stabilizers, and other additives. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls with thermoplastic polyurethane covers have good physical properties.

Golf balls having covers made with thermoplastic polyurethane and polydimethylsiloxane blend compositions

Thermoplastic and thermoset compositions for use in golf balls that are formed from bio-based materials and that include urethane linkages, golf ball components formed using such thermoplastic or thermoset compositions, and golf balls including such golf components.

Golf ball components formed from bio-based polyurethane and/or polyurea compositions

Compositions including a hardness agent and a water releasing agent and golf ball cores made from such compositions having a tailored hardness gradient are disclosed. The type and concentration of the components in the composition, including a hardness agent and a water releasing agent, affect the hardness, hardness gradient, and compression of cores made from the composition and, thus, can be used to produce a golf ball having desirable performance characteristics.

Golf ball core hardness gradient manipulation using hardness agent and water releasing agent

Casing compositions including carboxylic acid groups, cover compositions including an adhesion promoter with functional groups that crosslink with carboxylic acid groups, and golf balls made from such compositions that have crosslinks between functional groups of the cover compositions and the carboxylic acid groups. The type and concentration of the components in the casing and cover compositions, including the adhesion promoter, affect the adhesion between golf balls having components made from such compositions and, thus, can be used to produce a golf ball having increased durability. Additionally, methods of crosslinking casing and cover layers made from such casing and cover compositions to increase interlayer adhesion are disclosed.

Multi-layer golf balls with increased interlayer adhesion

Golf ball components formed from bio-based polyurehane and/or polyurea compositions

Compositions including a hardness agent and golf ball cores made from such compositions having a tailored hardness gradient are disclosed. The type and concentration of the components in the composition, including the hardness agent, affects the hardness, hardness gradient, and compression of cores made from the composition and, thus, can be used to produce a golf ball having desirable performance characteristics.

Golf ball core with tailored hardness gradient

Method of making a golf ball comprising the steps of: providing a subassembly; forming about the subassembly at least one layer comprised of a thermoset polyurethane which is prepared by mixing as the essential ingredients: (i) at least one long chain soft segment polyol and/or polyamine; (ii) at least one short chain-extending-type species; (iii) at least one isocyanate; and (iv) at least one additional chain-extending-type species; wherein essential ingredients (i) and (ii) are combined (reacted/mixed) to form a first sub-mixture; followed by combining/mixing the first sub-mixture and essential ingredient (iii) to form a prepolymer second sub-mixture; followed by combining (reacting/mixing) the prepolymer second sub-mixture with essential ingredient (iv) to form the thermoset polyurethane. Essential ingredients (ii) and (iv) may differ, or in some embodiments, are the same, although the total amount of essential ingredients (ii) included is preferably greater than the total amount of essential ingredient (iv).

Method of making golf ball incorporating improved polyurethane materials and resulting golf ball

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. Mixtures of multi-functional amines and imines, and multi-functional isocyanates, and epoxy curing agents; and solvent, can be applied to the outer cover. The resulting coating may contain polyurethanes, polyureas, and hybrids, copolymers, and blends thereof. The cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls have good physical properties.

Methods for treating thermoplastic polyurethane covers for golf balls with epoxy 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 polydimethylsiloxane compound. Functionalized polydimethylsiloxane compounds also can be used to treat thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers. The cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls with thermoplastic polyurethane covers have good physical properties.

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Norton, MA, United States of America

Michael Michalewich