Titanium alloys and golf club heads comprising the same

Abstract

A golf club head includes a striking face portion, and an aft body portion. The striking face portion includes a titanium alloy including four or more beta (β) stabilizers, one or more alpha (α) stabilizers, and a neutral element zirconium. Each of the four or more beta (β) stabilizers is independently present in the titanium alloy in an amount of about 0.25 to about 1.75 wt %. A titanium alloy includes titanium, four or more beta (β) stabilizers, one or more alpha (α) stabilizers, and a neutral element zirconium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a striking face portion comprising a titanium alloy, and   an aft body portion,   the titanium alloy comprising:
 one or more alpha (α) stabilizers; 
 four or more beta (β) stabilizers,
 wherein each of the four or more beta (β) stabilizers is independently present in the titanium alloy in an amount of about 0.25 to about 1.75 wt %; and 
 
 a neutral element comprising zirconium. 
   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein zirconium is present in the titanium alloy in an amount of about 1.5 to about 6 wt %. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein zirconium is present in the titanium alloy in an amount of about 4 to about 6 wt %. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the titanium alloy comprises Sn present in an amount of at most about 0.05 wt %. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the four or more beta (β) stabilizers comprise at least two selected from among V, Cr, Mn, and Fe. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein each of the four or more beta (β) stabilizers is independently present in the titanium alloy in an amount of about 0.75 to about 1.25 wt %. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the four or more beta (β) stabilizers comprise Mo present in the titanium alloy in an amount of at most about 0.05 wt %. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more alpha (α) stabilizers comprises Al. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein a composition of the titanium alloy comprises:
 Zr in an amount of 1.5 wt %, 2 wt %, 3 wt %, 4 wt %, 5 wt %, or 6 wt %;   Al in an amount of 5 wt %, 6 wt %, 7 wt %, or 8 wt %;   Nb in an amount of 0 wt % or 1 wt %; and   O in an amount of 0 wt %, 0.05 wt %, 0.1 wt %, 0.15 wt %, or 0.2 wt %,   the composition further comprising V, Cr, Mn, and Fe each in an amount of 1 wt % and Ti in a remaining amount of the composition.   
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the striking face portion comprises a striking face insert, and the striking face insert comprises the titanium alloy. 
     
     
         11 . A titanium alloy, comprising:
 one or more alpha (α) stabilizers;   four or more beta (β) stabilizers,
 wherein each of the four or more beta (β) stabilizers is independently present in the titanium alloy in an amount of about 0.25 to about 1.75 wt %; and 
   a neutral element comprising zirconium.   
     
     
         12 . The titanium alloy of  claim 11 , wherein zirconium is present in the titanium alloy in an amount of about 1.5 to about 6 wt %. 
     
     
         13 . The titanium alloy of  claim 11 , wherein zirconium is present in the titanium alloy in an amount of about 4 to about 6 wt %. 
     
     
         14 . The titanium alloy of  claim 11 , wherein the titanium alloy comprises Sn present in an amount of at most about 0.05 wt %. 
     
     
         15 . The titanium alloy of  claim 11 , wherein the four or more beta (β) stabilizers comprise at least two selected from among V, Cr, Mn, and Fe. 
     
     
         16 . The titanium alloy of  claim 11 , wherein each of the four or more beta (β) stabilizers is independently present in the titanium alloy in an amount of about 0.75 to about 1.25 wt %. 
     
     
         17 . The titanium alloy of  claim 11 , wherein the four or more beta (β) stabilizers comprise Mo present in the titanium alloy in an amount of at most about 0.05 wt %. 
     
     
         18 . The titanium alloy of  claim 11 , wherein each of the four or more beta (β) stabilizers is present in the titanium alloy in generally the same amount. 
     
     
         19 . The titanium alloy of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more alpha (α) stabilizers comprises Al. 
     
     
         20 . The titanium alloy of  claim 11 , wherein a composition of the titanium alloy comprises:
 Zr in an amount of 1.5 wt %, 2 wt %, 3 wt %, 4 wt %, 5 wt %, or 6 wt %;   Al in an amount of 5 wt %, 6 wt %, 7 wt %, or 8 wt %;   Nb in an amount of 0 wt % or 1 wt %; and   O in an amount of 0 wt %, 0.05 wt %, 0.1 wt %, 0.15 wt %, or 0.2 wt %,   the composition further comprising V, Cr, Mn, and Fe each in an amount of 1 wt % and Ti in a remaining amount of the composition.