Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a golf ball that contains an interpenetrating polymer network, or IPN, which includes at least two polymeric systems, in one or more of the layers. The first polymeric system may include a polyurethane-based or polyurea-based system having blocked isocyanate groups and the second polymeric system may include an epoxy-based or acrylic-based system, wherein the two systems are polymerized or cured simultaneously or sequentially to form an IPN.

Abstract: Golf balls comprising thermoplastic, thermoset, castable, or millable elastomer compositions are presently disclosed. These compositions comprise at least one polymer having a plurality of amide linkages and a plurality of anionic moieties attached thereto. These compositions can be used in any one or more portions of the golf balls, such as inner center, core, inner core layer, intermediate core layer, outer core layer, intermediate layer, cover, inner cover layer, intermediate cover layer, and/or outer cover layer.

Abstract: Golf balls comprising thermoplastic, thermoset, castable, or millable elastomer compositions are presently disclosed. These compositions comprise at least one polymer having a plurality of amide linkages and a plurality of cationic moieties attached thereto. These compositions can be used in any one or more portions of the golf balls, such as inner center, core, inner core layer, intermediate core layer, outer core layer, intermediate layer, cover, inner cover layer, intermediate cover layer, and/or outer cover layer.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center, an inner cover layer, and an outer cover layer, wherein the outer cover layer has a color lightness, L*, of 87 or greater following exposure to UV light at an irradiance power of 1.00 W/m2/nm for a period of about 1 hour to about 4 hours, and the cover comprises a polyurea formed from a prepolymer and a curing agent; and a blend of color stabilizers consisting of 2-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methyl-6-dodecylphenol, 3-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzenepropanoic acid, and 2-[4-((2-Hydroxy-3-dodecyloxypropyl)oxy)-2-hydroxyphenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine; wherein each of the color stabilizers is present in an amount of 1.0 to 3.0 percent by weight.

Abstract: Golf balls comprising elastomer compositions are presently disclosed. These elastomer compositions comprise at least one polyamine having the structure: where R1 and R2 are the same or different radicals chosen from hydrogen and C1-C60 organic moieties: Z1 is chosen from halogens and C1-C60 organic radicals: and Z2, Z3 and Z4 are the same or different radicals chosen from hydrogen, halogens, and C1-C60 organic radicals. These elastomer compositions can be used in any one or more portions of the golf balls, such as inner core layer, intermediate core layer, outer core layer, intermediate layer, cover, inner cover layer, intermediate cover layer, and/or outer cover layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls having at least one layer formed from a polyurea composition. The polyurea is formed by combining an aliphatic polyarea prepolymer, a diamine curative, and a cyclic carbonate diluent. Golf balls of the present invention include one-piece, two-piece, multi-layer, and wound golf balls. The composition may be present in any one or more of a core layer, a cover layer, or an intermediate layer.

Abstract: Compositions for golf balls including oxirane functional endcapped polymers and, in particular, compositions formed from polyurethane-based or polyurea-based prepolymers that are endcapped with an oxirane functional group. The oxirane functionality is opened with a suitable curing agent to provide a composition that has flexibility via the prepolymer backbone and stiffness via the oxirane functional endcaps.

Abstract: Golf ball components, such as cores, intermediate layers, and covers, formed with compositions including precursors with acrylate functionality crosslinked with a curing agent.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center, an inner cover layer, and an outer cover layer, wherein the outer cover layer has a color lightness, L*, of 87 or greater following exposure to UV light at an irradiance power of 1.00 W/m2/nm for a period of about 1 hour to about 4 hours, and the cover comprises a polyurea formed from a prepolymer and a curing agent; and a blend of color stabilizers consisting of 2-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methyl-6-dodecylphenol, 3-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzenepropanoic acid, and 2-[4-((2-Hydroxy-3-dodecyloxypropyl)oxy)-2-hydroxyphenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine; wherein each of the color stabilizers is present in an amount of 1.0 to 3.0 percent by weight.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a golf ball that contains an interpenetrating polymer network, or IPN, which includes at least two polymeric components, in one or more of the layers. In one preferred embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of forming an intermediate or cover layer that contains an IPN.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a golf ball that contains an interpenetrating polymer network, or IPN, which includes at least two polymeric systems, in one or more of the layers. The first polymeric system may include a polyurethane-based or polyurea-based system having blocked isocyanate groups and the second polymeric system may include an epoxy-based or acrylic-based system, wherein the two systems are polymerized or cured simultaneously or sequentially to form an IPN.

Abstract: Golf ball components, such as cores, intermediate layers, and covers, formed with compositions including precursors with acrylate functionality crosslinked with a curing agent.

Abstract: A golf ball including a center, a cover, and, optionally, at least one intermediate layer disposed between the center and the cover, wherein the cover is formed from a polyurethane composition, or a reaction product thereof, including at least one polyol; at least one polyisocyanate; at least one curing agent; and at least one color stabilizer; wherein the color stabilizer is present in an amount sufficient to provide a ?C* of less than about 22 upon exposure to UV light over a timeframe of 1 hour.

Abstract: Golf balls comprising thermoplastic, thermoset, castable, or millable elastomer compositions are presently disclosed. These elastomer compositions comprise at least one amine-terminated polyamide and at least one isocyanate-containing prepolymer. These elastomer compositions can be used in any one or more portions of the golf balls, such as inner center, core, inner core layer, intermediate core layer, outer core layer, intermediate layer, cover, inner cover layer, intermediate cover layer, and/or outer cover layer.

Abstract: Golf balls comprising thermoplastic, thermoset, castable, or millable compositions are presently disclosed. These compositions comprise reaction products of polyacids and polyamines. The polyacid is chosen from polymerized fatty polyacids and polyacid telechelics. These compositions can be used in any one or more portions of the golf balls, such as inner center, core, inner core layer, intermediate core layer, outer core layer, intermediate layer, cover, inner cover layer, intermediate cover layer, and/or outer cover layer.

Abstract: Golf balls comprising thermoplastic, thermoset, castable, or millable elastomer compositions are presently disclosed. These elastomer compositions comprise reaction products of polyisocyanates and telechelic polymers having isocyanate-reactive end-groups such as hydroxyl groups and/or amine groups. These elastomer compositions can be used in any one or more portions of the golf balls, such as inner center, core, inner core layer, intermediate core layer, outer core layer, intermediate layer, cover, inner cover layer, intermediate cover layer, and/or outer cover layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf items formed from a sulfur-containing composition. The sulfur-containing composition comprises the reaction product of four reactable components: (a) polyisocyanates and polyisothiocyanates; (b) polyols and polythiols; (c) epoxides and episulfides; and (d) amines and anilines; wherein at least one of the four reactable components contains a sulfur atom. The present invention also relates to methods, e.g., reaction injection molding processes and castable molding processes, for forming such golf items.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a sulfur-containing composition that can be used as golf items such as golf ball components and golf equipments. The sulfur-containing composition comprises the reaction product of four reactable components: (a) polyisocyanates and polyisothiocyanates; (b) polyols and polythiols; (c) epoxides and episulfides; and (d) amines and anilines; at least one of the four reactable components contains a sulfur atom. This invention also relates to a reaction injection molding process, a castable molding process and other methods using the sulfur-containing composition.

Abstract: Golf equipment having at least one portion formed from amine-adduct modified polyurea compositions, including epoxy-silicone modified polyurea compositions, epoxy modified polyurea compositions, silicone modified polyurea compositions, and polyurea compositions including polyamine/carbonyl adducts and/or amine-modified adducts having backbones based on polyfunctional acrylates or methacrylates or caprolactone monomers or oligomers.

Abstract: A golf ball having a core and at least one layer disposed about the core is disclosed. The core may further include a center and an outer core layer disposed about the center. The layer is formed from a composition having a prepolymer and a curative, the prepolymer being formed from an isocyanate and a blend of two or more telechelic polyahls, wherein a first telechelic polyahl has a first functionality of 3 or greater, which is greater than a second functionality of a second telechelic polyahl in the blend. The layer displays an enhanced shear resistance.