Multi-piece golf club heads formed from titanium and zirconium alloys

Abstract

A golf club head and a method for forming a golf club head are disclosed. The golf club head may include multiple components with varying densities to manipulate the weight, volume, and properties of the golf club head.

1 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a first portion comprising a body defining an inner volume, a sole, a crown, and a skirt, wherein the first portion comprises a first material having a first density and a first weight, wherein the first material comprises an alloy comprising titanium, zirconium, or a combination thereof, and wherein the first density ranges from about 7 g/cm 3  to about 8.5 g/cm 3 ; and   a second portion comprising a face, wherein the second portion comprises a second material having a second density less than the first density, wherein the second density is at least about 30 percent less than the first density.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a binary titanium-zirconium alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein the binary titanium-zirconium alloy comprises about 25 percent to about 75 percent by weight Zr. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein the binary titanium-zirconium alloy comprises about 10 percent to about 19 percent by weight Zr. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the second density ranges from about 4 g/cm 3  to about 5.5 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises titanium alloy. 
     
     
         7 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a first portion comprising a body defining an inner volume, a sole, a crown, and a skirt, wherein the first portion comprises a first material having a first density and a first weight, wherein the first material comprises a binary titanium or zirconium alloy, and wherein the first density ranges from about 6 g/cm 3  to about 9 g/cm 3 ; and   a second portion comprising a face, wherein the second portion comprises a second material having a second density less than the first density.   
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the first material comprises a binary titanium alloy selected from the group consisting of Ti-Zr, Ti-Hf, Ti-Mo, Ti-Ta, Ti-Nb, and Ti-Cr alloy. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the first material comprises a binary zirconium alloy selected from the group consisting of Zr-W, Zr-Hf, and Zr-Ta. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the second density ranges from about 3.5 to 5.5 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the second material comprises titanium alloy. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the second portion has a thickness of less than about 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         13 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a first portion comprising a body defining an inner volume, a sole, a crown, and a skirt, wherein the first portion comprises a first material having a first density and a first weight, wherein the first material comprises an alloy comprising titanium, zirconium, or a combination thereof, and wherein the first density ranges from about 6 g/cm 3  to about 9 g/cm 3 ; and   a second portion comprising a face, wherein the second portion comprises a second material having a second density less than the first density by at least about 30 percent.   
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the first material comprises a binary titanium alloy. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein the binary titanium alloy is selected from the group consisting of Ti-Zr, Ti-Hf, Ti-Mo, Ti-Ta, Ti-Nb, and Ti-Cr alloy. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein the binary titanium alloy comprises about 25 percent to about 75 percent by weight Zr. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the first density ranges from about 7.5 g/cm 3  to about 8.1 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the second density ranges from about 3.5 to 5.5 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 18 , wherein the second density ranges from about 4.1 to 5.1 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the second density is less than the first density by at least about 40 percent.