Abstract: A new underlayer composition that exhibits high etch resistance and improved optical properties is disclosed. The underlayer composition comprises a vinyl or acrylate polymer, such as a methacrylate polymer, the polymer comprising at least one substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene or naphthol moiety, including mixtures thereof. Examples of the polymer of this invention include: where each R1 is independently selected from an organic moiety or a halogen; each A is independently a single bond or an organic moiety; R2 is hydrogen or a methyl group; and each X, Y and Z is an integer of 0 to 7, and Y+Z is 7 or less. The organic moiety mentioned above may be a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of a linear or branched alkyl, halogenated linear or branched alkyl, aryl, halogenated aryl, cyclic alkyl, and halogenated cyclic alkyl, and any combination thereof.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition for forming a golf ball or a component thereof is disclosed that includes the use of a non-conjugated diene monomer having two or more vinyl (CH2?CH—) terminal end groups. The composition produces a molded product exhibiting an enhanced combination of increased compression (i.e., softness) and resilience (C.O.R.).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to resilient golf balls and portions thereof including compositions containing zinc dimethacrylate and zinc pentachlorothiophenol, and methods for making same. In particular, the present invention is directed to a golf ball having at least one of a center, cover, or intermediate layer that includes a reaction product that includes a resilient polymer component, a free radical source, zinc dimethacrylate and at least one halogenated organosulfur compound having the following general formula I: where R1-R5 can be substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl groups; halogen groups; thiol groups (—SH), carboxylated groups; sulfonated groups; and hydrogen; in any order.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the preparation of photoresist polymers via living free radical polymerization techniques. Sterically bulky ester monomers are utilized as the polymerization components. Use of chain transfer agents is included in polymerization processing conditions. Cleavage of polymer terminal end groups that include a heteroatom are described.

Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core, a mantle and a cover, the solid core is made of a rubber composition that includes a base rubber containing a polybutadiene synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, a small amount of organic peroxide, an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, an organic sulfur compound and an inorganic filler. The mantle is made of a thermoplastic resin composition. The cover is made primarily of a thermoplastic polyurethane material. This construction provides the golf ball with a combination of outstanding flight performance and soft feel with cover's scuff resistance and coating's abrasion resistance, that is unprecedented.

Abstract: A golf ball including a solid core formed from a composition comprising a diene rubber, a metallic fatty acid salt present in an amount of from 6.3 parts to 7.5 parts, a cis-to-trans catalyst present in an amount of 2.35 parts or greater, and an organic peroxide present in an amount of 0.8 parts or less; and a cover; wherein the core has a coefficient of restitution of 0.810 or greater and a compression of 58 to 78.

Abstract: A golf ball including a core and at least one layer disposed about the core, wherein the core or the layer is formed from a composition including a base polymer, a crosslink initiator, and an additive, wherein the additive is both an inorganic-sulfur compound and a sulfuric acid amide.

Abstract: A golf ball including a core and at least one layer disposed about the core, wherein the core or the layer includes a composition formed from a base polymer, a crosslink initiator, and at least one additive. The additive has at least one C—O—B linkage, the carbon in the linkage being a secondary or tertiary carbon. The additive is also selected from the group consisting of boranes, borates, boronates, borinates, heterocylic compounds having at least one boron atom as a ring member, boron-containing organosulfides, sulfur-containing silicocompounds, salts of such additives, and metal salts, organometallic salts, and non-metal salts of boron complexes.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, an outer cover layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the outer cover layer is presently disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to resilient golf balls and portions thereof including compositions containing zinc dimethacrylate and zinc pentachlorothiophenol, and methods for making same. In particular, the present invention is directed to a golf ball having at least one of a center, cover, or intermediate layer that includes a reaction product that includes a resilient polymer component, a free radical source, zinc dimethacrylate and at least one halogenated organosulfur compound having the following general formula I: where R1-R5 can be substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl groups; halogen groups; thiol groups (—SH), carboxylated groups; sulfonated groups; and hydrogen; in any order.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to sulfine control agents for synthesizing polymers via controlled free radical polymerization and to the polymers resulting therefrom. Such polymers include repeat units derived from the controlled free radical polymerization, particularly reversible atom fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization, of at least one vinyl-containing monomer, at least one conjugated diene monomer, or combinations thereof, in the presence of a sulfine compound having the formula: wherein R1 is alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, heterocycloalkyl or substituted heterocycloalkyl, and wherein Y is alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, substituted heterocycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkoxy, amino or thio.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid golf ball comprising a hot-molded product of a rubber composition comprising (a) 100 parts by weight of a polybutadiene synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst and having a cis-1,4 content of at least 60% and a 1,2 vinyl content of at most 2%, having a viscosity ? at 25° C. as a 5 wt % solution in toluene of up to 600 mPa·s, and having Mooney viscosity (ML1+4 (100° C.)) of more than 30, (b) 0.01 to 0.5 parts by weight of a sulfur, (c) 10 to 60 parts by weight of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, (d) 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of an organosulfur compound, (e) 5 to 80 parts by weight of an inorganic filler, and (f) 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of an organic peroxide, wherein the hot-molded product has a difference in JIS-C hardness between the center and surface thereof of more than 20 and up to 40. The solid golf balls of the invention have a soft feel upon impact and excellent rebound characteristics.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center comprising a polybutadiene having a molecular weight of greater than 200,000 and a resilience index of at least about 40; and a cover layer comprising a polyurethane composition formed from a prepolymer having no greater than 7.5 percent by weight unreacted isocyanate groups.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the preparation of photoresist polymers via living free radical polymerization techniques. Sterically bulky ester monomers are utilized as the polymerization components. Use of chain transfer agents is included in polymerization processing conditions. Cleavage of polymer terminal end groups that include a heteroatom are described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a glass-filled coupled impact propylene copolymer composition having an improved combination of strength, stiffness, impact properties and melt strength; articles made therefrom; and a process to prepare said articles.

Abstract: A golf ball, typically its core, is manufactured by molding and vulcanizing a rubber composition comprising a base rubber, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a metal salt thereof, an inorganic filler, an organic peroxide, and an organosulfur compound. The base rubber contains a polybutadiene having a Mw of 60–150×104 and a Mw/Mn of up to 2.0 and containing at least 98% of cis-1,4 bonds and up to 1.5% of trans-1,4 bonds. The composition is easy to mold and work, and the golf ball has good rebound and improved flight performance.

Abstract: An elastomeric composition for forming a golf ball or a component thereof is disclosed that includes the use of a non-conjugated diene monomer having two or more vinyl (CH2?CH—) terminal end groups. The composition produces a molded product exhibiting an enhanced combination of increased compression (i.e., softness) and resilience (C.O.R.).

Abstract: A golf ball has a core obtained by molding and vulcanizing a rubber composition comprising (A) a base rubber which includes a polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 content of at least 60 wt %, (B) an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or metal salt thereof, (C) an inorganic filler and (D) at least one organic peroxide selected from among 1,1-bis(t-hexylperoxy)cyclohexane, 1,1-bis(t-hexylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, and 2,2-bis(4,4-di-t-butylperoxycyclohexyl)propane. The golf ball has excellent rebound characteristics and flight performance as well as a high productivity due to a reduced vulcanization time.

Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core, a mantle and a cover, the solid core is made of a rubber composition that includes a base rubber containing a polybutadiene synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, a small amount of organic peroxide, an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, an organic sulfur compound and an inorganic filler. The mantle is made of a thermoplastic resin composition. The cover is made primarily of a thermoplastic polyurethane material. This construction provides the golf ball with a combination of outstanding flight performance and soft feel with cover's scuff resistance and coating's abrasion resistance, that is unprecedented.

Abstract: Golf ball compositions including novel processing aids, e.g., metal salts of unsaturated fatty acids, high styrene resins, transpolyisoprene, and transpolybutadiene, for inclusion in rubber-based compositions that reduce safety risks, mixer down time, increase dispersion of the ingredients during processing, and increase component COR over that of a component formed with a conventional processing aid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a core having a diameter of at least 1.5 inches, at least one inner cover layer encasing the core, and an outer cover layer encasing the inner cover layer. The inner cover layer has a thickness of from 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches and is formed from a material selected from polyamides, polyesters, fluoropolymers, silicones, ionomers, crosslinked rubbers, and mixtures thereof. The outer cover layer has a thickness of from 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches, is softer than the inner cover layer, and is formed from a composition comprising polybutadiene, an organosulfur compound, and a co-crosslinking agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a preparation method for acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin by continuous bulk polymerization comprising the following steps of a) preparing a mixed solution of styrene monomers and acrylonitrile monomers by adding 5–10 weight % of the mixture of styrene monomers and acrylonitrile monomers to a reaction solvent; b) preparing a polymerization solution by dissolving butadiene rubber in the above mixed solution of styrene monomers and acrylonitrile monomers; c) polymerizing with a serial injection of the prepared polymerization solution and initiator in a grafting reactor; d) polymerizing the reaction solution of the above c) in a phase inversion reactor by adding 90–95 weight % of the total mixture of styrene monomers and acrylonitrile monomers thereto; and e) polymerizing further the reaction solution of the above step d) at 130–160° C. The resin prepared by the method of the present invention thus has excellent impact strength and gloss.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a core having a diameter of at least 1.5 inches, an inner cover layer encasing the core, and an outer cover layer encasing the inner cover layer. The inner cover layer has a thickness of from 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches. The outer cover layer has a thickness of from 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches and is formed from an elastomer composition comprising an organosulfer compound and a crosslinkable polymer crosslinked at least in part by a liquid vinyl polydiene.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center comprising a polybutadiene having a molecular weight of greater than 200,000 and a resilience index of at least about 40; and a cover layer comprising a polyurethane composition formed from a prepolymer having no greater than 7.5 percent by weight unreacted isocyanate groups.

Abstract: Provided are a block copolymer including a polymer block containing acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile as a principal constituent, which is excellent in heat resistance, weatherability, oil resistance, flame retardancy, and low-temperature resistance and which can be economically produced; and a thermoplastic resin composition and an elastomer composition each containing the block copolymer. The block copolymer is produced by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization in the presence of a thiocarbonylthio group-containing compound.

Abstract: A golf ball is characterized by comprising a molded and vulcanized product of a rubber composition as a constituent component, the rubber composition comprising 100 pbw of a base rubber including 60–100 wt % of a polybutadiene containing at least 60 wt % of cis-1,4-bond, having a Mooney viscosity (ML1+4 (100° C.)) of at least 40, and synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, 10–60 pbw of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, 0.1–5 pbw of an organosulfur compound, 5–80 pbw of an inorganic filler, and at least two organic peroxides including an organic peroxide having the shortest half-life at 155° C. designated (a) and another organic peroxide having the longest half-life at 155° C. designated (b), a ratio of half-lives (bt/at) being from 7 to 20 wherein at is the half-life of (a) and bt is the half-life of (b), a total content of the organic peroxides being 0.1–0.8 pbw per 100 pbw of the base rubber.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core formed from a polymer composition including a blend of a diene rubber, a halogenated organosulfur compound, and a salt of a mono- or poly-unsaturated long chain organic acid; and a cover having a thickness of about 0.05 inches or less and including a polymer containing an acid group fully-neutralized by a salt of an organic acid, a cation source, or a suitable base of the organic acid.

Abstract: Preformed compositions comprising sulfur-containing polymers in shaped form and the use of preformed compositions in shaped form to seal apertures. In certain embodiments, the preformed compositions comprise a sulfur-containing polymer and a blend of fillers wherein the blend comprises substantially equal amounts of mica and polyamide.

Abstract: Disclosed is an acrylic syrup containing a vinyl monomer (A) of methyl methacrylate and a polymerized solid component (B) which is a high polymer of said vinyl monomer and has a weight average molecular weight of from 30,000 to 2,000,000 as measured by the GPC and a viscosity at 25° C. of from 0.1 to 50 Pa·s, wherein at least part of said polymerized solid component (B) is a grafted rubber obtained by graft-polymerizing said vinyl monomer with a rubbery polymer, and said grafted rubber has a large branching coefficient. The acrylic resin molded articles obtained from the acrylic syrup exhibit excellent impact resistance.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center comprising a polybutadiene having a molecular weight of greater than 200,000 and a resilience index of at least about 40; and a cover layer comprising a polyurethane composition formed from a prepolymer having no greater than 7.5 percent by weight unreacted isocyanate groups.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core having a diameter of between about 1.54 inches and about 1.57 inches, a compression of between about 70 and 80, and comprising a polybutadiene rubber composition comprising a magnesium salt of pentachlorothiophenol; a cover having a thickness of about 0.04 inches or less and comprising a castable polyurethane or polyurea composition; and an inner cover layer disposed between the core and the outer cover layer, the inner cover layer having a thickness of about 0.04 inches or less and selected from the group consisting of ionomers, vinyl resins, polyolefins, polyurethanes, polyureas, polyamides, acrylic resins, thermoplastics, polyphenylene oxide resins, thermoplastic polyesters, thermoplastic rubbers, partially-neutralized polymers, highly-neutralized polymers, and fully-neutralized polymers.

Abstract: A method of free radical polymerization and for cleaving a thio group from the resulting polymer is provided. The method comprises forming a mixture of one or more monomers, at least one free radical source and a control agent, wherein the control agent comprises a thio moiety. The mixture is polymerized, and the resulting polymer is mixed with a free radical source, and optionally an addition fragmentation agent under cleavage conditions. The thio moiety on the polymer is replaced with a group of interest.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center comprising a polybutadiene having a molecular weight of greater than 200,000 and a resilience index of at least about 40; and a cover layer comprising a polyurethane composition formed from a prepolymer having no greater than 7.5 percent by weight unreacted isocyanate groups.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a process for easily producing an alkenyl-terminated vinyl polymer without using a metal compound requiring a complicated purification step, and to provide a curable composition containing the vinyl polymer. An alkenyl group is incorporated into an end of a vinyl polymer having a thiocarbonylthio structure at the end to produce an alkenyl-terminated vinyl polymer. Mixing this vinyl polymer with a compound having a hydrogen-silicon bond and a hydrosilylation catalyst gives the curable composition.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center comprising a polybutadiene having a molecular weight of greater than 200,000 and a resilience index of at least about 40; and a cover layer comprising a polyurethane composition formed from a prepolymer having no greater than 7.5 percent by weight unreacted isocyanate groups.

Abstract: A low compression, resilient golf ball having a center including a material formed from the conversion reaction of sufficient amounts of polybutadiene, a free radical source, and a cis-to-trans catalyst to convert a portion of cis-isomer to trans-isomer in the polybutadiene, wherein said material has an amount of trans-isomer greater than the amount of trans-isomer present before the conversion reaction, and wherein the reaction product is susbstantially free of antioxidant.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball having at least one of a center, cover, or intermediate layer that includes a reaction product that includes a resilient polymer component, a free radical source, at one of a metallic mercaptobenzothiazole and optionally one or more of a cis-to-trans catalyst, a crosslinking agent, or a filler.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center comprising a polybutadiene having a molecular weight of greater than 200,000 and a resilience index of at least about 40; and a cover layer comprising a polyurethane composition formed from a prepolymer having no greater than 7.5 percent by weight unreacted isocyanate groups.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center comprising a polybutadiene having a molecular weight of greater than 200,000 and a resilience index of at least about 40; and a cover layer comprising a polyurethane composition formed from a prepolymer having no greater than 7.5 percent by weight unreacted isocyanate groups.

Abstract: It has been discovered that improved polystyrene products may be obtained by polymerizing styrene in the presence of at least one multifunctional initiator, at least one chain transfer agent, and at least one cross-linking agent. The presence of the multifunctional initiator tends to cause more branched structures in the polystyrene. A mathematical model that helps optimize the levels of these additives for given molecular weights, melt flow indices (MFIs) and zero shear viscosities (?0) has also been discovered.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least the core or the cover comprises an elastomeric composition comprising a base polymer and a carbon-carbon initiator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball having at least one of a center, cover, or intermediate layer that includes a reaction product that includes a resilient polymer component, a free radical source, at one of a metallic mercaptothiazole and optionally one or more of a cis-to-trans catalyst, a crosslinking agent, or a filler.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core including a center having an outer diameter from about 0.375 inches to about 1.4 inches and deflection of greater than about 4.5 mm under a load of 100 Kg and an outer core layer having an outer diameter of from about 1.4 in to about 1.62 in, wherein at least one of the center or core layer includes polybutadiene rubber composition including a halogenated organosulfur compound or a metal salt thereof, and a cover including an inner cover layer having an outer diameter of greater than about 1.58 in and a material hardness of less than about 72 Shore D and an outer cover layer having a hardness of greater than about 50 Shore D and a material hardness of less than about 50 Shore D.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene polymer using a catalyst containing a carbon disulfide in which the polymerizate thereof is treated with hydrogen peroxide, to preparation of a composite of conjugated diene-based elastomer and syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene polymer using a catalyst containing a carbon disulfide which the polymerizate thereof is treated with hydrogen peroxide, a rubber composition containing said syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene polymer and/or said composite and a tire having at least one rubber component thereof.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core formed from a composition comprising a metal salt of an unsaturated organic acid and at least one co-curing agent comprising an unsaturated imide or a metallic derivatives thereof; and a cover layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid golf ball having exceptional rebound characteristics and flight performance, as well as good shot feel. The present invention relates to a solid golf ball comprising at least one layer of a core, and at least one layer of a cover formed on the core, wherein at least one layer including the inmost layer of the core is formed by vulcanizing a rubber composition comprising a base rubber, a co-crosslinking agent, a vulcanization initiator and a filler, the core has a center hardness in JIS-C hardness of 40 to 60, a surface hardness in JIS-C hardness of 80 to 95 and a hardness difference (B?A) between a hardness in JIS-C hardness at a distance of 5 mm from the center point of the core (B) and the center hardness (A) of not less than 1 to less than 10.

Abstract: A method of free radical polymerization and for cleaving a thio group from the resulting polymer is provided. The method comprises forming a mixture of one or more monomers, at least one free radical source and a chain transfer agent, wherein the chain transfer agent comprises a thio moiety. The mixture is polymerized, and the resulting polymer is mixed with a free radical source, and a monomer having little or no homopolymerizability under cleavage conditions. The thio moiety on the polymer is replaced with a group of interest.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing a first generation polymer comprising a step which consists in radical polymerization of a composition containing: at least an ethylenically unsaturated monomer a free radical source, and at least a disulfide compound.

Abstract: A golf ball consisting of a core having a diameter of between about 1.54 and about 1.61 inches and a compression of between about 70 and about 80, the core comprising a polybutadiene rubber having a Mooney viscosity of less than about 50 and a halogenated organosulfur compound, or a salt thereof, present in an amount of at least about 2.2 parts per hundred parts of polybutadiene rubber, the halogenated organosulfur compound having the formula: where R1-R5 are C1-C8 alkyl groups; halogen groups; thiol groups; carboxylated groups; sulfonated groups; or hydrogen; and a cover having a thickness of less than about 0.05 inches, the cover consisting essentially of a first ionomeric material, a second ionomeric material, and a metallocene-catalyzed polymer.

Abstract: A golf ball providing rebound performance, spin performance, resistance to abrasion and anti-wearability in an excellent balance is formed of a core and a cover arranged to cover the core and formed mainly of diene rubber having a smaller trans structure content before it is crosslinked than after it is crosslinked, in particular by 2 to 20%. The diene rubber is preferably polybutadiene rubber and as the cover's co-crosslinking agent a metallic salt of ?,?-ethylene unsaturated carboxylic acid is used.