Golf balls comprising a plasticized polyurethane layer

Abstract

A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein at least one of the core or cover layer comprises a plasticized polyurethane composition comprising at least one polyurethane and at least one plasticizer.

1 . A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the cover comprises:
 an inner cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H inner cover , of greater than 60;   an intermediate cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H intermediate cover , of from 20 to 60; and   an outer cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H outer cover , of 55 or less and formed from a composition comprising a polyurethane and from 10 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the outer cover layer composition, of a plasticizer,   wherein H outer cover <H intermediate cover <H inner cover .   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol-dibenzoate, ethyl oleate and propylene carbonate. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from 10 wt % to 40 wt %, based on the total weight of the outer cover layer composition. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cover layer composition is a thermosetting composition. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cover layer composition is a thermoplastic composition. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate cover layer is formed from an ionomer composition optionally comprising from 2 wt % to 50 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the intermediate cover layer composition. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 6 , wherein the inner cover layer is formed from an ionomer composition. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 6 , wherein the inner cover layer is formed from a polyamide composition. 
     
     
         9 . A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the cover comprises:
 an inner cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H inner cover , of greater than 60;   an intermediate cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H intermediate cover , of 55 or less; and   an outer cover layer having an outer surface Shore D hardness, H outer cover , of from 20 to 60 and formed from a composition comprising a polyurethane and from 10 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the outer cover layer composition, of a plasticizer,   wherein H intermediate cover <H outer cover <H inner cover .   
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol-dibenzoate, ethyl oleate and propylene carbonate. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from 3 wt % to 40 wt %, based on the total weight of the outer cover layer composition. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the outer cover layer composition is a thermosetting composition. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the outer cover layer composition is a thermoplastic composition. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the intermediate cover layer is formed from an ionomer composition optionally comprising from 2 wt % to 50 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the intermediate cover layer composition. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 14 , wherein the inner cover layer is formed from an ionomer composition. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 14 , wherein the inner cover layer is formed from a polyamide composition.