EP4051838A1 - Installation de gazon artificiel - Google Patents

Installation de gazon artificiel

Info

Publication number
EP4051838A1
EP4051838A1 EP20800747.6A EP20800747A EP4051838A1 EP 4051838 A1 EP4051838 A1 EP 4051838A1 EP 20800747 A EP20800747 A EP 20800747A EP 4051838 A1 EP4051838 A1 EP 4051838A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
loose
particulate material
artificial turf
sand
pla
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP20800747.6A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Jan Noordegraaf
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Innograaf BV
Original Assignee
Innograaf BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Innograaf BV filed Critical Innograaf BV
Publication of EP4051838A1 publication Critical patent/EP4051838A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01C—CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR
    • E01C13/00—Pavings or foundations specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds; Drainage, irrigation or heating of sports grounds
    • E01C13/08—Surfaces simulating grass ; Grass-grown sports grounds

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an artificial turf installation, comprising: a pile fabric having a backing and a multiplicity of generally upstanding pile elements; and an infill overlying said backing and being interspersed between said upstanding pile elements, said infill comprising a loose, particulate material consisting of particles coated with a coating material.
  • the present invention furthermore relates to a loose, particulate material consisting of particles coated with a coating material.
  • Synthetic turf is a ground surfacing material designed to imitate both the appearance and function of natural grass.
  • synthetic turf gained popularity in 1966 when it was used in the Astrodome Stadium in Houston, Texas. Since then, over 11 ,000 synthetic turf fields have been installed in the United States and in Europe there are currently over 13,000 synthetic turf fields.
  • Synthetic turf fields have several advantages over natural grass fields. They do not require irrigation, fertilizers, or pesticide application, which saves water, labor, time, and reduces the likelihood that certain potentially toxic chemicals will be introduced into the environment. In addition, synthetic turf fields can be used more frequently because they do not become muddy after precipitation and do not require waiting periods between uses to facilitate repair and recovery. Although synthetic turf installation costs substantially more than natural grass, the overall long term expenses are lower.
  • US 2008/014557 relates to a recreational surface, comprising: a pile fabric having a backing and a multiplicity of generally upstanding pile elements; and an infill overlying said backing and being interspersed between said upstanding pile elements, said infill comprising resilient particles and particles of a rubber coated hard granular material.
  • the synthetic rubber mentioned here is a butadiene rubber comprising from about 100% to about 60% by weight of the composition, especially polybutadiene or styrene-butadiene rubber.
  • a source for the granulized synthetic rubber is recycled tires that are commercially available from numerous sources.
  • WO 2018/183756 relates to an artificial turf assembly comprising: a turf carpet having a plurality of spaced apart synthetic grass blades; and an infill material dispersed onto the turf carpet between the grass blades, the infill material including sand and a plurality of wood particles having a specific ratio between a length dimension a width or a thickness dimension.
  • US 2018/0371708 relates to an artificial turf field system, comprising: a plurality of synthetic turf strands attached to a backing layer; an infill material positioned between the synthetic turf stands, the infill material including a plurality of porous particles, wherein at least a portion of the porous particles are at least partially covered in a coating.
  • the coating mentioned here is a polymer coating including one of acrylic resin, Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polystyrene (PS), Nylon, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), acrylate monomers, Methacrylates, Methyl acrylate, Ethyl acrylate, 2-Chloroethyl vinyl ether, 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate, Hydroxyethyl methacrylate, Butyl acrylate, Butyl methacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), Polymethyl acrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, alkyl acrylate copolymer (ACM) and combinations thereof, and the porous particles include porous ceramic particles, wherein the infill material is substantially free of crumb rubber and sand.
  • LDPE Low Density
  • WO 2004/022853 relates to a loose, particulate material consisting of silica sand grains coated with an elastomeric coating material, wherein the coating material comprises a thermoplastic polymer having a melt index of 20-40 g/10 min and Shore A hardness of 40-90.
  • the thermoplastic polymer used here is an Engage (trademark) 8400 polyolefin elastomer produced by DuPont Dow Elastomer, namely an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer with 24% octane comonomer, a melt index of 30 g/10 minutes and a density of 0.870 g/cc.
  • US 4,337,283 relates to a playing surface for athletic games comprising: a firm, stable subsurface a pile fabric having a flexible backing and normally upstanding pile elements resembling grass, and a compacted top-dressing layer comprising a mixture of from 25 to 95 volume percent resilient particles and from 5 to 75 volume percent fine sand interspersed among the pile elements, wherein said resilient particles comprise cork granules or rubber particles, wherein said rubber is natural rubber or a synthetic rubber selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, cis-polyisoprene rubber, neoprene rubber, nitrile rubber and urethane rubber.
  • US 2003/161996 relates to a synthetic grass assembly for installation on a supporting substrate, the assembly comprising: a pile fabric with a flexible sheet backing and a plurality of upstanding synthetic ribbons; an infill layer of particulate material disposed interstitially between the upstanding ribbons, the particulate material selected from the group consisting of hard and resilient granules, wherein the resilient granules are selected from the group consisting of cryogenically ground rubber; rubber; cork; polymer beads; synthetic polymer foam; styrene; perlite, neoprene, and EPDM rubber, and wherein the hard granules are selected from the group consisting of sand; hard aggregate; silica sand; gravel; slag; granulated plastic; and polymer beads.
  • WO 16/190744 relates to an artificial turf system comprising: a resilient layer; an artificial grass layer comprising a substrate and pile fibres upstanding from the substrate; an infill layer, disposed on the substrate and interspersed between the pile fibres, the infill layer comprising smooth, hard granules having a mean size of between 2.0 mm and 10 mm, wherein the granules comprise a thermoplastic material, selected from the group comprising: PE, PP, PA, PU, PS, ABS, PC, PET, PEF, PHA and PLA.
  • a thermoplastic material selected from the group comprising: PE, PP, PA, PU, PS, ABS, PC, PET, PEF, PHA and PLA.
  • US 6,818,274 relates to an artificial turf system that uses support material for an infill layer, wherein the particulate matter of infill layer may include both hard granules or particles, such as sand, rocks or other hard particles, as well as resilient particles chosen from the group of rubber, such as butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, crumb rubber or ground tire rubber, cryogenic rubber particles, neoprene, and polyethylene foam.
  • the particulate matter of infill layer may include both hard granules or particles, such as sand, rocks or other hard particles, as well as resilient particles chosen from the group of rubber, such as butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, crumb rubber or ground tire rubber, cryogenic rubber particles, neoprene, and polyethylene foam.
  • WO 2018/016956 relates to an artificial turf suitable for sports fields consisting at least of a substrate to which first artificial grass fibers are attached and of a granular infill, which is provided between said first artificial grass fibers, wherein the granular infill is made of a foam material comprising polylactic acid or a derivative thereof.
  • the granular infill mentioned in this International application may further comprises one or more bio-based polymers chosen from the group of polybutylene succinate (PBS), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3- hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), or one or more fossil-based polymers chosen from the group of copolyester of butandiol, adipic acid and terephthalic acid (PBAT), poly(methyl methacrylate), polystyrene and polyolefins.
  • PBS polybutylene succinate
  • PCL polycaprolactone
  • PHBV poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3- hydroxyvalerate)
  • PHA polyhydroxyalkanoate
  • PB polyhydroxybutyrate
  • PBAT adipic acid and terephthalic acid
  • This WO 2018/016956 fails to disclose an infill comprising a core and a
  • KR 102 018 068 relates to a method of manufacturing a hybrid filler for artificial turf comprising silicone 10 to 15% by weight, styrene-butadiene copolymer (styrene butadiene copolymer) 10 to 15% by weight, polyester 5 to 10% by weight %, paraffinic or paraffinic naphthenic mineral oil 10 to 30% by weight, talc or calcium carbonate 30 to 50% by weight, quartzite powder that radiates far-infrared rays and negative ions to the composition of 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of inorganic pigment, clay powder and wood herb liquor, wherein it is formed by applying a filler chip (Pf) formed by cutting a filler chip composition produced by adding 2 to 10% by weight of the extract to a particle size between 1.4 mm and 3.35 mm on the top of than artificial turf layer.
  • the role of polylactic acid in this composition of the hybrid filler is a binder of the other ingredients, and consequently its amount in the composition is low.
  • IT MI20 110 144 relates to a filament for artificial grass whose cross section includes a central portion from which a first arm and a second arm extend, wherein the arms extend for different lengths and they are divergent.
  • the artificial grass filament is made of a thermoplastic material, a material chosen from the group comprising polyolefins and polyamides, in particular made of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, or a polymeric material of origin vegetable, therefore renewable, chosen from the group of biopolymers, in particular polylactic acid, PLA.
  • This Italian document is totally silent about the use of an infill in an artificial turf installation, let alone its composition.
  • US 2017/319943 relates to an artificial turf installation, comprising a base structure, a layer of resilient material supported on the base structure, an artificial turf supported by the layer of resilient material and a layer of infill material, wherein the layer of infill material defines a playing surface and consists of a particulate having an exterior surface comprising a polymeric material.
  • butadiene rubber applied in artificial grass sports fields is affecting the impact resistance of the system.
  • the application of the technique to apply an expensive rubber coating on sand will still lead to an abrasive system that cause skin injuries.
  • such butadiene rubber will lead to the issues of leaching and emission of residual monomer with all safety and health issues related to it.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an infill in artificial grass sports fields that will overcome or minimize one or more of the drawbacks as discussed above.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an infill in artificial grass sports fields that fulfils the requirements of the international sports federations, such as FIFA and UEFA, and ultimately has its origin in biodegradable materials.
  • the present invention thus relates to an artificial turf installation, comprising: a pile fabric having a backing and a multiplicity of generally upstanding pile elements; and an infill overlying said backing and being interspersed between said upstanding pile elements, said infill comprising a loose, particulate material consisting of particles coated with a coating material, wherein said coating material comprises a biodegradable polymer.
  • a coating material comprising a biodegradable polymer has an environmental advantage.
  • the ability of microorganisms to break down these polymers results in the production of H 2 O and CO 2 .
  • a coating material comprising a biodegradable polymer leaves a smaller footprint than petroleum-based coating materials that accumulate in landfills and may cause heavy pollution.
  • the present infill does not behave as regular sand anymore. Instead it acts as a rubbery sand in a very flexible way such that it become smoother to thread on than expected and in addition it creates a flexible rebound, such that it only needs to be mixed in a relatively simple artificial standard and therefore low cost artificial grass configuration, without the need for expensive foamed EPP undercovers.
  • Applying a biodegradable polymer coating layer to a loose, particulate material provides a beneficial effect, because the loose, particulate material becomes apparently elastic and rubbery due to the reduced friction between the individual loose, particulate materials due to the coating with the biodegradable polymer.
  • the biodegradable polymer is chosen from the group of PLA copolymers, PLA, PLLA, PDLA, PHBH, PHBV, PBAT, PHA, PHB, PBS, cellulose, PCL and thermoplastic starch, and mixtures of said biodegradable polymers.
  • the biodegradable polymer has a MFI (Melt Flow Index) in a range of 2-50, preferably in a range of 12-20, measured according to ISO 1133.
  • MFI Melt Flow Index
  • the biodegradable polymer comprises PLA.
  • Polylactic acid is thermoplastic aliphatic polyester synthesized from renewable biomass, typically from fermented plant starch such as from corn, cassava, sugarcane or sugar beet pulp.
  • the loose particulate material consists of sand, wherein the diameter of the loose particulate material is in a range of 0,05-3 mm, preferably 0,9-1 , 6 mm, more preferably 0, 9-1 ,1 mm in diameter, with a bulk density of the coated loose particulate material of 500-2500 kg/m 3 , preferably of 900-1500 kg/m 3 .
  • the coating material constitutes 1 - 10% % by weight of the loose particulate material, preferably 1 ,9- 2,5% % by weight of the loose particulate material.
  • the present infill comprises a loose, particulate material consisting of loose particulate material coated with a coating material and is thus not an infill consisting of 100% (biodegradable) polymer.
  • an infill material made of 100% polymer does not fall within the scope of protection of the present invention and is thus excluded thereof.
  • the present infill thus comprises several types of materials, i.e. the coating material is different from the core material.
  • a coupling agent is provided between the loose particulate material and the coating material, so as to improve the binding between the loose particulate material and the coating material, wherein the coupling agent preferably comprises a silane having a methacrylate group.
  • the coupling agent is provided on the outer surface of the loose particulate material and subsequently the coating material is provided on the loose particulate material provided with the coating material.
  • the pile elements are made from polymers chosen from the group of PE, PP, SMA, PA, PLA, PDLA, PLLA, star shaped PLA polymer, and/or copolymers of PLA, PBS, PHBH, cellulose or combinations thereof, wherein a pole height of said multiplicity of generally upstanding pile elements is preferably in a range of 20-60 mm, more preferably 30- 35 mm.
  • the pile elements further comprise one or more additives, chosen from the group of antistatic additives, colorants, UV stabilizers, anti-microbial substances, fire retardants, cross linkers, coupling agents, melt flow enhancers and anti-slip agents.
  • the present invention also relates to a loose, particulate material consisting of particles coated with a coating material, wherein said coating material comprises a biodegradable polymer.
  • the loose particulate material preferably consists of sand and said biodegradable polymer is chosen from the group of PLA copolymers, PLA, PLLA, PDLA, PHBH, PHBV, PBAT, PHA, PHB, PBS, cellulose, PCL and thermoplastic starch, and mixtures of said biodegradable polymers.
  • the loose, particulate material comprises one or more elements chosen from the group of sand, sand coated with said biodegradable polymer and sand coated with non-biodegradable polymers like PE, PP, copolymers of PS/PE, ABS, TPU, TPE, PS, EPDM, SBR, PA, PU, PC, PET, PTFE, SBS, SEBS, PEF, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, isoprene rubber, neoprene rubber, polyacrylic rubber, silicones, latex or cellulose acetate.
  • an infill is not 100% sand coated with a biodegradable polymer, but that other sand type particles are present, such as sand, i.e. sand that is not coated with a coating material at all, and sand coated with another type of polymer, i.e. non-biodegradable polymers as mentioned above.
  • other infill materials may be present in minor amounts, such as rubber coated granular materials, for example synthetic rubber, e.g. butadiene rubber.
  • An example of a method of producing a loose, particulate material consisting of particles coated with a coating material comprises a step of placing a portion of a loose, particulate material in a mixer comprising mixing means, adding a portion of a coating material to the content of the mixer under continued operation of the mixing means, and directing an airflow through the content of the mixer so as to lower the temperature thereof.
  • the coated particles are no longer mutually bonded and a loose, particulate product is obtained.
  • the present inventors found that for using biodegradable polymer in such a coating application care should be taken for an unwanted hydrolisation of these polymers. In that context it is necessary to prevent that these polymers hydrolyze quickly.
  • a protective atmosphere with a very low moisture content may be used as a protective covering to process the biodegradable polymer.
  • Typical ambient air conditions used in such a coating process include dry air with a dew point of -35°C.
  • Example 5 The application of a coupling agent on a loose, particulate material sand
  • Silane preparation In a glass beaker 500 ml isopropyl alcohol (IPA) 399.7% (supplier Merck) was mixed with 500 ml demineralized water and 5 ml Silane type 3- (trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (supplier Merck). The mixture thus obtained was stirred continuously for 5 min every 10 min for a period of 2 hours.
  • IPA isopropyl alcohol
  • a rotary cement type mixer 300 ml of the silane solution was added to 2 kg of round sand having a 1, 0-1 ,1 mm diameter and this was rotated for 30 minutes, and then the content was emptied in a steel container which has a steel mesh (120 MESH) with sufficient openings to remove the excess liquid.
  • the sand was put back in a heated oven and was heated to 115°C for 30 minutes. Subsequently the sand was removed from the oven and mixed with 10 gram of PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate) granules type Ecoflex F blend C1200 (BASF) and put back in the oven while continuously mixing and heating to 250°C.
  • PBAT polybutylene adipate terephthalate
  • the artificial turf installation constructed with the infill material according to Example 1 did undergo several qualification tests as shown in Table 1. The results shown in Table 1 indicate that the artificial turf installation meets specific standards for sport fields, emission of hazardous components, weather and fire resistant.
  • Tablel Performance and measured properties of a 35 mm high layer of PLA coated sand in a standard 3rd generation artificial turf lawn grass with a pole height of 35 mm.
  • Sand having a particle distribution as shown in Table 2 was used in all examples.
  • the parameter of “a diameter of 1 mm” is to be understood as > 80% of all particles falls within a range of 1-0,9 mm, measured by a Retch CAMSIZER P4.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Road Paving Structures (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une installation de gazon artificiel, comprenant : un tissu à poils ayant un support et une multiplicité d'éléments de poils généralement verticaux; et un élément de remplissage recouvrant ledit support et étant intercalé entre lesdits éléments de poils verticaux, ledit matériau de remplissage comprenant un matériau particulaire en vrac constitué de particules revêtues d'un matériau de revêtement, ledit matériau de revêtement comprenant un polymère biodégradable.
EP20800747.6A 2019-11-01 2020-10-29 Installation de gazon artificiel Pending EP4051838A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2024145A NL2024145B1 (en) 2019-11-01 2019-11-01 artificial turf installation
PCT/NL2020/050673 WO2021086187A1 (fr) 2019-11-01 2020-10-29 Installation de gazon artificiel

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4051838A1 true EP4051838A1 (fr) 2022-09-07

Family

ID=69467631

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20800747.6A Pending EP4051838A1 (fr) 2019-11-01 2020-10-29 Installation de gazon artificiel

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20220380987A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4051838A1 (fr)
NL (1) NL2024145B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2021086187A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4337283A (en) 1980-09-11 1982-06-29 Haas Jr Frederick T Synthetic turf playing surface with resilient top-dressing
US6551689B1 (en) 1998-09-21 2003-04-22 Fieldturf Holdings Inc. Synthetic grass with resilient granular top surface layer
EP1422345A1 (fr) 2002-09-06 2004-05-26 PV-Sand A/S Grains de Sable revétus
US6818274B1 (en) 2003-01-16 2004-11-16 Bright Intellectual Asset Management, Llc Artificial turf system using support material for infill layer
DE102006033312A1 (de) 2006-07-17 2008-01-31 Heraeus Kulzer Gmbh Dentales Implantatsystemteil mit einer Beschichtung
IT1403678B1 (it) * 2011-02-02 2013-10-31 Tessiture Pietro Radici S P A Filamento per erba artificiale.
CA2889364C (fr) 2014-04-24 2023-01-10 Profile Products L.L.C. Systeme de gazon artificiel
NL2014875B1 (en) 2015-05-28 2017-01-31 Ten Cate Thiolon Bv Artificial Turf System.
US20170319943A1 (en) * 2016-05-05 2017-11-09 The Land Solution Artificial turf system and method of installing same
NL2017214B1 (en) 2016-07-22 2018-01-31 Synbra Tech B V Artificial turf suitable for sports fields
ES2941466T3 (es) 2017-03-29 2023-05-23 Brock Usa Llc Relleno para sistema de césped artificial y proceso de fabricación
US20200071886A1 (en) * 2018-08-28 2020-03-05 Columbia Insurance Company Novel Artificial Turf and Methods of Making Same
KR102018068B1 (ko) * 2019-05-10 2019-09-04 주식회사 디와이에코 인조잔디용 하이브리드 충진재의 제조 방법과 그를 이용해 제조된 인조잔디용 하이브리드 충진재 및 설치 방법

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL2024145B1 (en) 2021-07-19
WO2021086187A1 (fr) 2021-05-06
US20220380987A1 (en) 2022-12-01

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