Golf ball incorporating tie layer between differing adjacent layers

Abstract

A golf ball having improved adhesion comprising: a core; a first layer surrounding the core; a tie layer surrounding at least a portion of an outer surface of the first layer and consisting of a mixture of a polyfunctional aziridine compound and a solvent; and a second layer that is different than the first layer formed about the tie layer. The first layer may consist of a non-urethane composition whereas the second layer consists of at least one urethane composition. The first layer may comprise a non-urethane composition whereas the second layer consists of at least one urethane composition. The first layer may consist of a non-urethane composition while the second layer comprises a urethane composition. The first layer may comprise an ionomer for example. The solvent may be aprotic. Alternatively, the solvent may be protic.

1 . A golf ball having improved adhesion between two adjacent different layers, comprising:
 a core;   a first layer formed from a first resin and having a thickness of at least 0.025 in. surrounding the core;   a tie layer surrounding at least a portion of an outer surface of the first layer and consisting of a resin-free mixture of a polyfunctional aziridine compound and a solvent; and   a second layer that is formed from a different resin than the first layer and has a thickness of at least 0.015 in. formed about the tie layer.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent is aprotic and comprises at least one of acetone, tetrahydrofuran (THF), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and methyl isobutyl ketone. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises water. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a non-urethane composition and the second layer consists of at least one urethane composition. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer consists of a non-urethane composition and the second layer comprises a urethane composition. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer consists of a non-urethane composition and the second layer consists of at least one urethane composition. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 6 , wherein the non-urethane composition comprises an ionomer. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 6 , wherein the second layer has an average NCO functionality in the range of about 1.5 to 4. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polyfunctional aziridine compound and the solvent are mixed in a wt % ratio of from about 1:199 to about 1:19. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polyfunctional aziridine compound and the solvent are mixed in a wt % ratio of about 1:49. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture consists of the aziridine compound in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 5% of the mixture. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture consists of the aziridine compound in an amount of from about 1.0% to about 3% of the mixture. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is functionalized by the tie layer. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the tie layer surrounds the entire outer surface of the first layer. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the tie layer surrounds a portion of the entire outer surface of the first layer. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer is at least one of opaque, transparent and translucent. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises polybutadiene.