Golf ball

Abstract

A golf ball component, such as a golf ball cover layer, formed from a reaction injection molded polyurethane, polyurea or polyurethane/polyurea is disclosed. The cover layer may be relatively thin (for example, 0.075 or less, preferably 0.050 inches or less, more preferably less than 0.040 inches, even more preferably less than 0.030 inches). The golf ball component is produced from a fast reacting aromatic polyurethane composition that is PTMEG based.

1 . A golf ball comprising: 
 a core; and    a cover disposed about said core;    wherein said cover comprises a fast reacting PTMEG-based polyurethane and/or polyurea material, wherein said fast reacting PTMEG-based polyurethane and/or polyurea material has a reaction time of less than two minutes at processing conditions.    
   
   
       2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein said PTMEG-based polyurethane and/or polyurea material comprises the reaction product of an aromatic diisocyanate prepolymer and a PTMEG-based polyol.  
   
   
       3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein said aromatic diisocyanate prepolymer is a PTMEG-based aromatic diisocyanate prepolymer.  
   
   
       4 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the polyol further comprises a fast reacting diamine curative or chain extender.  
   
   
       5 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein the diamine curative or chain extender has a Gardner color of less than 10.  
   
   
       6 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the polyol further comprises a surfactant.  
   
   
       7 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the polyol further comprises at least one catalyst.  
   
   
       8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein said cover thickness is less than 0.075 inches.  
   
   
       9 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein said cover thickness is less than 0.025 inches.  
   
   
       10 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , further comprising a mantle disposed about said core.  
   
   
       11 . A golf ball comprising: 
 a core; and    a cover disposed about said core;    wherein said cover comprises the reaction product of an aromatic diisocyanate prepolymer and a PTMEG-based polyol and at least one of a fast reacting diamine curative, a fast reacting chain extender and a catalyst, wherein the reaction product has a reaction time of less than two minutes at processing conditions.    
   
   
       12 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein said aromatic diisocyanate prepolymer is a PTMEG-based aromatic diisocyanate prepolymer.  
   
   
       13 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the polyol further comprises a fast reacting diamine curative or a fast reacting chain extender.  
   
   
       14 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the polyol further comprises a surfactant.  
   
   
       15 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the polyol further comprises at least one catalyst.  
   
   
       16 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one catalyst is a tin, zinc or zirconium catalyst.  
   
   
       17 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the diisocyanate prepolymer comprises 4,4′-diphenyl methane diisocyanate.  
   
   
       18 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , further comprising a mantle disposed about the core.  
   
   
       19 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein said cover thickness is less than 0.075 inches.  
   
   
       20 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein said cover thickness is less than 0.025 inches.  
   
   
       21 . A golf ball comprising: 
 a core; and    a cover disposed about said core;    wherein said cover comprises the reaction product of an aromatic diisocyanate prepolymer and a PTMEG-based polyol, wherein said diisocyanate prepolymer comprises 4,4′-diphenyl methane diisocyanate and said polyol comprises a fast reacting diamine curative or a fast reacting chain extender and at least one catalyst.    
   
   
       22 . The golf ball of  claim 21 , wherein said aromatic diisocyanate prepolymer is a PTMEG-based aromatic diisocyanate prepolymer.  
   
   
       23 . The golf ball of  claim 21 , wherein said cover thickness is less than 0.075 inches.  
   
   
       24 . The golf ball of  claim 23 , wherein said cover thickness is less than 0.025 inches.  
   
   
       25 . The golf ball of  claim 21 , further comprising a mantle disposed about said core.  
   
   
       26 . The golf ball of  claim 21 , wherein the diamine curative is diethyl-2,4-toluene diamine.  
   
   
       27 . The golf ball of  claim 21 , wherein the reaction product has a reaction time of less than two minutes at processing conditions.