Golf club head with abrasion resistant striking face

Abstract

A golf club head may include a body, a back, a topline, a heel portion, a hosel, a toe portion, a sole, and a striking face. The striking face may include a plurality of scorelines, a base layer including fibers and a polymer matrix, a metal veil layer on top of the base layer, and a metal layer on top of the metal veil layer. The metal veil layer may include metal veils including metal-coated fibers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a body comprising:
 a back; 
 a topline located at an upper portion of the golf club head; 
 a heel portion located at a proximal end of the golf club head; 
 a hosel adjacent to the heel portion and the topline, the hosel defining a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a shaft; 
 a toe portion located at a distal end of the golf club head opposite the heel portion; 
 a sole located at a lower portion of the golf club head opposite the topline; and 
 a striking face located at a frontal portion of the golf club head opposite the back, wherein the striking face comprises:
 a plurality of scorelines; 
 a base layer comprising fibers and a polymer matrix; 
 a metal veil layer on top of the base layer, wherein the metal veil layer comprises metal veils, wherein the metal veils comprise metal-coated fibers, and wherein the metal-coated fibers comprise a first metal; and 
 a metal layer on top of the metal veil layer, wherein the metal layer comprises a second metal. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first metal comprises at least one of copper and nickel. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the metal veil layer is co-molded with the base layer. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the metal veil layer has a thickness between about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the metal veil layer has an areal weight from about 15 grams per square meter to about 125 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the fibers comprise carbon fibers, and wherein the polymer matrix comprises epoxy resin. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the metal layer has a thickness less than about 0.05 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the second metal comprises at least one of chrome and nickel. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer further comprises carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the striking face further comprises an intermediate metal layer between the metal veil layer and the metal layer, wherein the intermediate metal layer comprises a third metal, wherein the third metal is different from the first metal and the second metal. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein the intermediate metal layer has a thickness less than about 0.05 mm. 
     
     
         12 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a body comprising:
 a back portion; 
 a topline located at an upper portion of the golf club head; 
 a heel portion located at a proximal end of the golf club head; 
 a hosel adjacent to the heel portion and the topline, the hosel defining a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a shaft; 
 a toe portion located at a distal end of the golf club head opposite the heel portion; 
 a sole located at a lower portion of the golf club head opposite the topline; and 
 a striking face located at a frontal portion of the golf club head opposite the back, wherein the striking face comprises:
 a plurality of scorelines; 
 a base layer comprising:
 carbon fibers; and 
 a thermoset polymer matrix; 
 
 a metal veil layer on top of the base layer, wherein the metal veil layer comprises metal veils, wherein the metal veils comprise metal-coated fibers, and wherein the metal-coated fibers comprise a first metal; and 
 a metal layer on top of the metal veil layer, wherein the metal layer comprises a second metal; 
 
   wherein the metal-coated fibers of the metal veil layer are exposed to a bottom surface of the metal layer.   
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the first metal comprises one of copper and nickel, and wherein the second metal comprises one of nickel and chrome. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the striking face is treated with carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a striking face of a golf club head, comprising:
 bonding a metal veil layer to a top surface of a base layer, wherein the base layer comprises a polymer matrix and fibers distributed therein, wherein the metal veil layer comprises metal-coated fibers, and wherein the metal-coated fibers comprise a first metal; and   applying a metal layer to a top surface of the metal veil layer to form a metal-coated fiber composite, wherein the metal layer comprises a second metal.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising coating a top surface of the metal veil layer with an intermediate metal layer, wherein the intermediate metal layer comprises a third metal, and wherein the metal layer is applied onto a top surface of the intermediate metal layer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the metal layer is applied to the top surface of the metal veil layer by thermal spraying, electroplating, or electroless-plating. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising distributing carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the base layer to form a CNT base layer, wherein the metal veil layer is bonded to the CNT base layer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising wearing away a top surface of the metal veil layer to expose the metal-coated fibers, wherein applying the metal layer occurs after the top surface is worn away. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fibers comprise carbon fibers, and wherein the polymer matrix comprises epoxy resin.