Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf ball having a solid core of at least one layer, a cover of at least one layer encasing the core, and a paint film on a surface of the cover, wherein at least one cover layer and/or the paint film includes a luster pigment composed of metal oxide-coated alumina flakes. This golf ball has a high commercial value because of its visual impact and high quality feel, and because it achieves a bright, color-saturated effect without the yellow cast typical of conventional golf ball surfaces.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having an individualized and improved appearance by imparting the luster, without lowering durability and a color developing property of the paint film and/or the mark. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having an improved visibility, which the mark should inherently provide. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body, a mark formed on the golf ball body, a paint film coating the golf ball body and the mark, wherein the mark and/or the paint film contains a luster material, wherein the luster material has a core material having a transparent base and a first transparent layer formed on the transparent base; and at least one composite layer formed on the core material and consisting of a second transparent layer having a lower refractive index than the first transparent layer, and a third transparent layer having a higher refractive index than the second transparent layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball having a core and a cover of one or more layer, wherein at least one layer of the cover is made of a material obtained by molding a mixture composed of (a) 100 parts by weight of a base resin and (b) 1 to 40 parts by weight of a saturated branched-chain fatty acid or a derivative thereof. The golf ball has a soft, pleasant feel on impact and excellent scuff resistance while retaining a good flight performance. Moreover, it exhibits a highly white appearance that undergoes little discoloration.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide A method for producing a golf ball that is excellent In the durability of the mark, the adhesion of the paint Film and the productivity. In the present invention, since the curing agent contained in the paint covering the mark is used to cure the resin component forming the mark, there is no increase in the viscosity or the gellation of the ink for printing the mark, and thus the mark is printed well during the production of the golf ball.

Abstract: A golf ball is formed including a core and a cover. The cover includes a thermoplastic inner cover layer and having a hardness between 55 and 60 Shore D, an outer cover layer having a hardness between 55 and 60 Shore D, and a non-ionomeric thermosetting polyurethane or polyurea intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner and outer cover layers. The intermediate cover layer has a hardness greater than the inner cover layer hardness and the outer cover layer hardness. The inner cover is formed from a partially- or fully-neutralized ionomer and the outer cover layer is formed from a polyurethane, a polyurea, or a urethane-urea blend.

Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball material comprising components (A), (B) and (C): (A) a mixture of different masterbatches prepared by separately masterbatching two or more different metal ions (A1) or a masterbatch prepared by simultaneously masterbatching two or more different metal ions in itself (A2), (B) one or more polymer selected from the group consisting of diene polymers, thermoplastic polymers and thermoset polymers, and (C) one or more polymer having an acid content of from about 0.5 to about 30 wt % and selected from the group consisting of olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers, olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester terpolymers, unsaturated carboxylic anhydride-containing polymers, unsaturated dicarboxylic acid-containing polymers and unsaturated dicarboxylic acid half ester-containing polymers. The invention also provides a method for preparing such a golf ball material, and a golf ball made of the material.

Abstract: A golf ball includes a core and a cover disposed adjacent the core. The cover includes a thermoplastic inner cover layer having a hardness between 55 and 60 Shore D; an outer cover layer having a hardness between 55 and 60 Shore D; and a non-ionomeric thermoplastic polyurethane or polyurea intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner and outer cover layers. The intermediate cover layer has a hardness greater than the inner cover layer hardness and the outer cover layer hardness. The inner cover is formed from a partially- or fully-neutralized ionomer and the outer cover layer is formed from a polyurethane, a polyurea, or a urethane-urea blend.

Abstract: The invention is directed to golf ball comprising a core and a cover disposed about the core, the cover comprising at least one cover layer comprising an cover outer surface and a cover inner surface, the cover outer surface comprising a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition, the cover outer surface further comprising a hardness ? and the cover inner surface comprising a hardness ?, wherein the hardness ? is different than the hardness ?. In another embodiment, the at least one cover layer comprises a treated cover region and an untreated cover region, the treated cover region extending inward from the cover outer surface a depth of about 1% or greater of a distance between the cover outer surface and the cover inner surface, and the untreated cover region being disposed about the cover inner surface and adjacent the treated cover region.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of making a golf ball comprising the steps of: providing a core comprising at least one layer; forming a cover about the core comprising at least one cover layer comprising a cover inner surface and a cover outer surface and having a thickness D; treating the cover outer surface with a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition and forming a treated cover region which extends inward from the cover outer surface a penetration depth DCTr, an untreated cover region being disposed between the cover inner surface and the treated cover region and having a depth (DCUTr)=(D)?(DCTr); wherein the treated cover region has a hardness ? and the untreated cover region has a hardness ? different than the hardness ?.

Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a cover disposed adjacent the core, the cover including an ionomeric thermoplastic inner cover layer disposed about the core and having a hardness of 55 Shore D to 60 Shore D; a castable thermoset polyurethane outer cover layer having a hardness between 55 Shore D and 60 Shore D; and a non-ionomeric thermoplastic intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner and outer cover layers, the non-ionomeric intermediate cover layer being formed of a polyester/polycarbonate blend and having a hardness greater than both the inner and outer cover layers; wherein the inner cover layer has a first thickness, the outer cover layer has a second thickness, and the intermediate cover layer has a third thickness less than the first or second thickness by at least 20%.

Abstract: A golf ball includes a core and a cover disposed about the core. The cover includes a thermoplastic inner cover layer having a hardness between 55 Shore D and 60 Shore D, an outer cover layer having a hardness between 55 Shore D and 60 Shore D, and a non-ionomeric thermoplastic intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner and outer cover layer. The intermediate layer has a hardness greater than the inner cover layer and the outer cover layer. The inner cover is formed from a partially- or fully-neutralized ionomer, the intermediate layer from a non-ionomer, and the cover outer cover layer from a polyurea formed from the reaction product of a prepolymer comprising an isocyanate and an amine-terminated polytetramethylene ether glycol, and an amine-terminated curing agent.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having the individualized appearance as well as the improved visibility, which the mark should inherently provide, by imparting the luster (brilliance) to the mark, without lowering the durability of the mark. The golf ball of the present invention comprises a mark on a golf ball body, wherein the mark is made from an ink composition that comprises a luster material including a bismuth-containing compound, and a pigment.

Abstract: A golf ball composition having a copolymer with an acid content modified by a nucleating agent is described. The nucleating agent modifies the flexural modulus of the acid copolymer.

Abstract: A golf ball made from a composition that includes at least one triboluminescent material. In one embodiment, the golf ball includes a core; an outer cover layer; one or more intermediate layers; and a coating layer disposed on the outer cover layer, wherein at least one of the core, the outer cover layer, the intermediate layer, or the coating layer comprises at least one triboluminescent material. In another embodiment, the golf ball includes a core; an outer cover layer; and one or more intermediate layers; wherein at least one of the core, the outer cover layer, or the intermediate layer comprises at least one triboluminescent material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blend composition, suitable for use in golf ball manufacture, which is the reaction product of (A) a polymer of ethylene and/or an alpha olefin and one or more ?, ?-ethylenically unsaturated C3-C20 carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids or phosphoric acids; (B) a compound having both amine and carboxylic acid functionality or a derivative of these functional groups; and (C) a basic metal ion salt, which has the capacity to neutralize some or all of the acidic group present in blend components (A) and (B). When (A) is a polymer comprising one or more ?, ?-ethylenically unsaturated C3-C20 carboxylic acids it comprises a high molecular weight component having a molecular weight from about 80,000 to about 500,000.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-layer golf ball comprising at least one core or core layer, at least one intermediate layer, and at least one cover layer. The core has a diameter of about 1.20 to about 1.56 in. and a PGA compression of about 40 to about 90. The intermediate layer comprises a modified ionomeric polymer, and it has a thickness of about 0.01 to about 0.10 in. and a Shore D hardness of about 30 to about 70. The cover layer has a Shore D hardness of about 40 to about 75. The multi-layer golf balls of the present invention provide high driver ball speed and/or a high Coefficient of Restitution, while maintaining excellent shot feel.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in the durability at the normal and low temperatures, flight distance, direction stability and shot feeling on the shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising: a core consisting of a center having a diameter of 35 mm or less and a surrounding layer covering the center; at least one intermediate layer covering the core, said intermediate layer having a thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm and a density of 1.10 g/cm3 or more; and a cover covering the intermediate layer and having a thickness ranging from 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm, wherein the cover is formed of a cover composition that has a slab hardness ranging from 65 to 75 in Shore D hardness and contains as a resin component; (A) a polyamide resin composition having a flexural modulus in a range from 700 MPa to 4,000 MPa and a melt flow rate (240° C., 2.16 kg) of 5.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-layer golf ball having a soft outer cover. The golf ball has an inner cover layer with a Shore D hardness of 60 or more, and an outer cover with a Shore D hardness of 55 or less, and more preferably 50 or less. In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the outer cover comprises one or more polyurethane materials. The golf ball of the invention has exceptionally soft feel and high spin rates on short shots of 80 yards or less, and particularly, 40 yards or less, while maintaining good distance and average spin on full shots.

Abstract: The present invention relates to golf ball having a core and an outer cover layer made from a blend composition of about 1 to about 99 wt % of a block copolymer having no polar functionality; and from about 1 to about 99 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of either one or more unimodal acidic polymers; or a bimodal polymer blend composition including a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about 80,000 to about 500,000 and including one or more ethylene/?,?-ethylenically unsaturated C3-8 carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers; and a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight, Mw, of about from about 2,000 to about 30,000 and comprising one or more ethylene/?, ?-ethylenically unsaturated C3-8 carboxylic acid copolymers and/or one or more ethylene, alkyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylic acid terpolymers.

Abstract: A golf ball 2 includes a spherical core 4, a mid layer 6 positioned outside the core 4, and a cover 8 positioned outside the mid layer 6. The core 4 includes a spherical center 10 and an envelope layer 12 positioned outside the center 10. The center 10 has a diameter of 1 mm or greater and 15 mm or less. The center 10 has a JIS-C hardness H1, at its central point, of 20 or greater and 50 or less. The difference (H4?H3) between the JIS-C hardness H4 of the core 4 at its surface and the JIS-C hardness H3 of the envelope layer 12 at its innermost portion is equal to or greater than 10. The cover 8 has a flexural modulus of 300 MPa or greater and 1000 MPa or less, and has a tensile modulus of 400 MPa or greater and 1500 MPa or less.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls having at least one layer which comprises a polymer produced by a process wherein one or more monomers are contacted with a composition comprising the admixture or reaction product resulting from combining (A) a first olefin polymerization catalyst, (B) a second olefin polymerization catalyst capable of preparing polymers differing in chemical or physical properties from the polymer prepared by the first olefin polymerization catalyst under equivalent polymerization conditions, and (C) a chain shuttling agent. Golf balls of the present invention include one-piece, two-piece, and multi-layer golf balls. In two-piece and multi-layer golf balls of the present invention, the polymer may be present in a core layer, a cover layer, an intermediate layer (in the case of multi-layer balls), or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball material composed of (i) a non-ionomeric thermoplastic resin, (ii) an ionomeric resin and/or an acid-containing polymer which is the base polymer of an ionomeric resin, and (iii) a norbornene dicarboxylic anhydride and/or a derivative thereof. Methods for preparing such a material, and a golf ball which includes as a component therein a part made of the golf ball material are also provided. The golf ball material has a good thermal stability, flow and processability, and can thus be used to obtain high-performance golf balls endowed with an excellent rebound resilience, durability and flexibility.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a resin composition for the golf ball that suppresses the bleed out of the low molecular weight material component, as well as improves the fluidity and repulsion performance. The present invention provides a golf ball forming resin composition comprising as a resin component, (A) a high melt viscosity resin; (B) a low melt viscosity ionomer resin having a melt viscosity (190° C.) ranging from 1 Pa·s to 10 Pa·s measured by a brookfield viscometer, in a ratio of (A) the high melt viscosity resin/(B) the low melt viscosity ionomer resin being 55 mass % to 99 mass %/45 mass % to 1 mass %; and (C) a metal ion source capable of neutralizing carboxyl groups of (A) the high melt viscosity resin and (B) the low melt viscosity ionomer resin, in an amount of from 0.1 part to 10 parts with respect to 100 parts by mass of a sum of (A) the high melt viscosity resin and (B) the low melt viscosity ionomer resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ionomer composition for a golf ball providing a golf ball which is excellent in abrasion-resistance, durability and resilience, and a golf ball using the same. An ionomer composition for a golf ball of the present invention comprises a binary copolymer obtained by copolymerizing an olefin monomer having 2 to 8 carbon atoms with an unsaturated monomer having an acid functional group and/or a ternary copolymer obtained by copolymerizing an olefin monomer having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, an unsaturated monomer having an acid functional group and an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, wherein a functional group is introduced in both terminals of the copolymers.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in fluidity, adhesion of the paint film, and repulsion. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball which is excellent in durability and low-temperature durability. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising: a core and a cover covering the core, wherein the cover is formed from a cover composition that contains as a resin component, (A) a specific high melt viscosity ionomer resin being neutralized with at least two metal ions, and (B) a low melt viscosity ionomer resin being neutralized with at least two metal ions, in a ratio of (A) the high melt viscosity ionomer resin/(B) the low melt viscosity ionomer resin being 55 mass % to 99 mass %/45 mass % to 1 mass %.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in fluidity, adhesion of the paint film, and repulsion. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball which is excellent in durability and low-temperature durability.

Abstract: A golf ball having a core and two or more cover layers, wherein the multiple cover layers are formed from materials that are substantially the same composition with the same Shore hardness, but are modified in some way to alter the processing or performance characteristics of the golf ball, or the layers have the same hardness and at least one cover layer is formed of a polymer blend including a polyurethane composition, and at least one cover layer is formed of a different polymer blend.

Abstract: A golf ball material composed of (A) an olefin-containing thermoplastic polymer having an acid content of at least 0.5 wt % but less than 5.0 wt %, (B) a resin composition which includes one or more selected from the group consisting of diene polymers, thermoplastic polymers and thermoset polymers, and (C) an oxygen-containing inorganic metal compound has a good thermal stability, flow and processability, making it suitable for injection molding. The golf ball material is ideal for the production of high-performance golf balls endowed with durability, scuff resistance and optimal hardness without a loss of rebound in the molded article.

Abstract: A golf ball having an indicia composed of a novel metallic ink is disclosed herein. The first indicia is preferably composed of a vacuum metallized pigmented ink having a particle size ranging from 10 microns to 12 microns. The ink is preferably an aluminum based ink. The golf ball is preferably a two-piece solid golf ball or a three-piece solid golf ball. The novel ink preferably has a viscosity above about 300 centipoise.

Abstract: A golf ball including an inner core having a first outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a first substantially homogenous composition such that the inner core has a hardness of about 60 Shore C to about 90 Shore C; an outer core layer disposed about the inner core having a second outer surface and being formed from a second substantially homogenous composition such that the outer core layer has a hardness of about 60 Shore C to about 95 Shore C; and a cover layer disposed about the outer core layer. The geometric center and first and second outer surfaces each have a hardness, the hardness of the second outer surface being lower than the hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient.

Abstract: A golf ball includes an inner core having a first outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a first substantially homogenous composition such that the inner core has a hardness of about 60 Shore C to about 90 Shore C; an intermediate layer disposed about the inner core and being formed from a second substantially homogenous rubber-based composition such that the outer core layer has a hardness of about 20 Shore D to about 80 Shore D; and a cover layer disposed about the intermediate layer. A hardness of the first outer surface is 61 Shore C to 83 Shore C and is lower than a hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient having a magnitude of up to ?10.

Abstract: A golf ball includes an inner core having a first outer surface and a center formed from a homogenous composition such that the inner core has a hardness of 40 to 80 Shore C; an outer core layer disposed about the inner core having a second outer surface and an inner surface, formed from a homogenous composition such that the outer core layer has a hardness of 60 to 90 Shore C; and a cover layer including at least two layers. The center, first and second outer surfaces, and inner surface each have a hardness, the first outer surface hardness being lower than the center hardness to define a negative hardness gradient, and the second outer surface hardness being greater than the inner surface hardness by 10 to 20 Shore C to define a positive hardness gradient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball having at least one layer which includes a polymer composition containing at least 50 wt % of an acid polymer and at least 0.5 wt % of a polylactic acid, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total polymeric weight of the polymer composition. At least 70% of the acid groups of the acid polymer are neutralized by a cation source or a metal salt thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball material which includes, in mixture: (A) a metal-containing chelating agent (A1) or a mixture (A2) composed of a metal-containing chelating agent and an oxygen-containing inorganic metal compound; (B) one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of diene polymers, thermoplastic polymers and thermoset polymers; and (C) one or more acid-containing polymers having an acid content of from 0.5 to 30 wt % and selected from the group consisting of olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers, olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester terpolymers, unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride-containing polymers, unsaturated dicarboxylic acid-containing polymers and unsaturated dicarboxylic acid half ester-containing polymers. The invention also provides a method for preparing such a golf ball material, and a golf ball made with the material.

Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball material composed of (i) a non-ionomeric thermoplastic resin, (ii) an ionomeric resin and/or an acid-containing polymer which is the base resin of an ionomeric resin, and (iii) at least one compound selected from among N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylamide, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl(meth)acrylate and derivatives thereof. Methods for preparing such a material, and a golf ball which includes as a component therein a molded part made of the golf ball material are also provided. The golf ball material has a good thermal stability, flow and processability, and can thus be used to obtain high-performance golf balls having an excellent rebound resilience, an outstanding durability and a good flexibility.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a novel thermoplastic material and a golf ball utilizing the thermoplastic material of the invention. The golf ball (10) preferably comprises a core (12), a cover (16) and, optionally, a boundary layer (14). At least one of the core (12), cover (16) or boundary layer (14) of the golf ball (10) comprises a thermoplastic material according to the invention. A thermoplastic material of the invention comprises a partially to highly neutralized blend of an acid copolymer, a copolymer comprising a metallocene-catalyzed alpha-olefin and a softening comonomer, and a fatty acid or fatty acid salt.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a novel thermoplastic material and a golf ball utilizing the thermoplastic material of the invention. The golf ball (10) preferably comprises a core (12), a cover (16) and, optionally, a boundary layer (14). At least one of the core (12), cover (16) or boundary layer (14) of the golf ball (10) comprises a thermoplastic material according to the invention. A thermoplastic material of the invention comprises a partially to highly neutralized blend of an acid copolymer, a copolymer comprising a metallocene-catalyzed alpha-olefin and a softening comonomer, and a fatty acid or fatty acid salt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a golf ball material which is a thermoplastic ionomer blend composition of an acid-containing ethylene-based terpolymer having a weight-average molecular weight Mw of at least about 100,000, an acid-containing ethylene-based copolymer and/or terpolymer having a Mw of about 1,500 to about 95,000, and a low-molecular-weight acid-containing compound having a molecular weight of up to about 1,000, at least some portion of which composition is neutralized. The golf ball material is soft and resilient, and has a good durability and improved moldability.

Abstract: The present invention provides a golf ball with excellent abrasion-resistance, durability and resilience having an ionomer resin cover therein. The ionomer composition for the golf ball of the invention comprises a reaction product obtained by reacting a telechelic copolymer having functional groups introduced in both terminals of a binary copolymer formed by copolymerizing an olefin monomer having 2 to 8 carbon atoms and an unsaturated carboxylic acid having 2 to 18 carbon atoms, and/or a ternary copolymer formed by copolymerizing an olefin monomer having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, an unsaturated carboxylic acid having 2 to 18 carbon atoms and an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester with a hydroxyl group-containing compound or an isocyanate group-containing compound, wherein at least 10 mole % of a carboxylic group in said reaction product is neutralized with an inorganic metal.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein at least one of the core or cover layer comprises homo and copolymers of poly(dimethyl siloxane) ionomers, and their blends for improved resiliency and abrasion resistant golf balls.

Abstract: A golf ball material composed of (A) an oxygen-containing inorganic metal compound in the form of a particulate or a master batch capable of neutralizing at least some of the acid groups in an acid-containing polymer blend, (B) one or more polymer selected from among diene polymers, thermoplastic polymers and thermoset polymers, and (C) an acid-containing polymer is prepared by mixing component A in a blend of components B and C. The golf ball material has a good heat resistance, flowability and processability, and can be used to produce high-performance golf balls having durability, scuff resistance and optimal hardness without a loss of rebound.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-layer golf ball having a soft outer cover. The golf ball has an inner cover layer with a Shore D hardness of 60 or more, and an outer cover with a Shore D hardness of 55 or less, and more preferably 50 or less. In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the outer cover comprises one or more polyurethane materials. The golf ball of the invention has exceptionally soft feel and high spin rates on short shots of 80 yards or less, and particularly, 40 yards or less, while maintaining good distance and average spin on full shots.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a golf ball having a solid core formed of a rubber composition and a cover of at least one layer encasing the core, which method includes the steps of treating a surface of the core with a solution containing a halogenated isocyanuric acid and/or a metal salt thereof, and covering the treated core with a cover material. The invention also provides a golf ball obtained by such a method. Golf balls obtained by this method have a good feel and a good scuff resistance, and also have a high durability to impact.

Abstract: This invention is directed to A composition for forming a golf ball, the composition comprising polyurethane gel composite particles and at least one base material selected from the group consisting of synthetic resins and elastomers, the polyurethane gel composite particles consisting of colloidal polyurea particles precipitated from a non-aqueous solvent solution of colloidal polyurea and polyurethane gel particles covered with the polyurea particles, the polyurethane gel particles being three-dimensionally crosslinked and each of the polyurethane gel particles being formed of a polyisocyanate compound and a polyethylene oxide group-free, active-hydrogen-containing compound, at least one of the compounds being trifunctional or higher valency, and is also directed to a multi-piece golf ball having one or more layers formed of this composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf ball having a solid core of at least one layer, a cover of at least one layer encasing the core, and a paint film on a surface of the cover, wherein at least one cover layer and/or the paint film includes a luster pigment composed of metal oxide-coated alumina flakes. This golf ball has a high commercial value because of its visual impact and high quality feel, and because it achieves a bright, color-saturated effect without the yellow cast typical of conventional golf ball surfaces.

Abstract: A golf ball material composed of (A) an oxygen-containing inorganic metal compound in the form of a particulate or a master batch capable of neutralizing at least some of the acid groups in an acid-containing polymer blend, (B) one or more polymer selected from among diene polymers, thermoplastic polymers and thermoset polymers, and (C) an acid-containing polymer is prepared by mixing component A in a blend of components B and C. The golf ball material has a good heat resistance, flowability and processability, and can be used to produce high-performance golf balls having durability, scuff resistance and optimal hardness without a loss of rebound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a core and a cover covering the core, wherein the cover is formed from a cover composition containing a non-petroleum based polyester resin as a resin component (A) and a needle-like and/or fibrous filler (B). The present invention further provide a golf ball comprising a core and a cover covering the core, wherein the cover is formed from a cover composition containing, a non-petroleum based polyester resin (A-1), at least one petroleum based thermoplastic resin (A-2), and a compatibilizer (C) containing at least a (meth)acrylic resin (C-1) having a polar functional group and an olefin resin (C-2) having a polar functional group. According to the present invention, durability, abrasion resistance and repulsion of a golf ball can be improved.

Abstract: A golf ball with an improved cover layer that is formed over the core, and that is a thermoset polyurethane composition or a thermoset polyurea composition, each formed from reactants comprising respective thermoplastic polyurethane or polyurea and a cross-linking hydrolysable organosilane having the general formula: where, R1, R2, and R3 are aliphatic alkyl, aromatic alkyl and n?1; and R4 is an organic radical capable of reacting with the polymer backbone moiety, which comprises a cross-linking agent having at least two isocyanate functions. The thermoplastic polyurethane obtained is capable after processing of cross-linking on contact with water molecules to become thermoset. The golf ball can also include an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, where the intermediate layer is composed of a blend of ionomers. The golf ball hydrolysable organosilane cross-linking agent is gamma-methyl aminopropyl methoxy silane.

Abstract: A golf ball composition having a copolymer with an acid content modified by a nucleating agent is described. The nucleating agent modifies the flexural modulus of the acid copolymer.

Abstract: Disclosed are thermoplastic compositions comprising partially or fully neutralized carboxylic acid-based ionomers modified with rosin or rosin derivatives and, optionally, organic acids and salts thereof. Methods of preparing the thermoplastic compositions are also provided. The thermoplastic compositions exhibit higher hardness and stiffness than typical ionomer compositions. Also disclosed are golf balls, sporting equipment, and other non-sport articles comprising said thermoplastic compositions and methods for their preparation.