Method for treating thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers

Abstract

A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane cover further comprising an isocyanate or hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product may then be subjected to gamma or electron beam irradiation.

1 . A method of forming a golf ball, the method comprising:
 placing a golf ball precursor product in an isocyanate solution to create an isocyanate solution covered golf ball precursor product, the golf ball precursor product comprising a cover comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane material and an isocyanate terminated polybutadiene material, the solution comprising a MDI and acetone;   removing the isocyanate solution covered golf ball precursor product from the solution;   heating the isocyanate solution covered golf ball precursor product to remove the solvent to create a final golf ball precursor product.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the golf ball precursor product further comprises a core and a boundary layer formed over the core with the thermoplastic polyurethane cover formed over the boundary layer. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the final golf ball precursor product is subjected to gamma irradiation. 
   
   
       4 . A method of forming a golf ball, the method comprising:
 placing a golf ball precursor product in an isocyanate solution to create an isocyanate solution covered golf ball precursor product, the golf ball precursor product comprising a cover comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane material and a hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene material, the solution comprising a MDI and acetone;   removing the isocyanate solution covered golf ball precursor product from the solution;   heating the isocyanate solution covered golf ball precursor product to remove the solvent to create a final golf ball precursor product; and,   subjecting the final golf ball precursor product to gamma or electron beam radiation.   
   
   
       5 . A method of forming a golf ball, the method comprising:
 placing a golf ball precursor product in a solution to create a solution covered golf ball precursor product, the golf ball precursor product comprising a core, a boundary layer and a cover comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane material and an isocyanate terminated polybutadiene, the solution comprising acetone and MDI;   removing the solution covered golf ball precursor product from the solution;   heating the solution covered golf ball precursor product to remove the solvent to create a final golf ball precursor product, wherein the final golf ball precursor product is heated from two to four hours at a temperature ranging from 125° F. to 250° F.; and   subjecting the final golf ball precursor product to gamma irradiation.   
   
   
       6 . A golf ball comprising:
 a cover composed of a thermoplastic polyurethane material and a functionalized polybutadiene material.   
   
   
       7 . The golf ball according to  claim 6  wherein the cover is gamma irradiated. 
   
   
       8 . The golf ball according to  claim 6  wherein the functionalized polybutadiene is present in an amount ranging from 1 to 3 weight percent of the cover.