GB2331756A

GB2331756A - Resilient synthetic surfaces

Info

Publication number: GB2331756A
Application number: GB9725180A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Andrew Collins
Original assignee: Martin Collins Enterprises Ltd
Current assignee: Martin Collins Enterprises Ltd
Priority date: 1997-11-28
Filing date: 1997-11-28
Publication date: 1999-06-02
Also published as: GB9725180D0; GB2331756A9

Abstract

An admixture for incorporation into a synthetic surface such as a gallop for horses comprises granules of fibre reinforced rubber which have been treated to tease out the reinforcement to give elongated flexible lengths to some of which bits of rubber are still attached.

Description

2331756 RESILIENT SYNTHETIC SURFACES The invention relates to a synthetic

surface, more particularly a synthetic surface for recreational or exercise use by animals and humans, e.g. for equestrian use. Such a surface may be an arena, gallop or track, or the like.

It is known to make such a surface by mixing a particulate filler such as sand and a resilient granular filler component and applying the mix to the intended site. The filler may be granules of polyvinyl chloride, natural or synthetic rubbers; cork; or the like. It has now been discovered that by including certain elements one can obtain a very good long life very resilient coherent surface.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided an admixture for incorporation into a synthetic surface comprising elongate flexible elements selected to interconnect to form a substantially coherent surface.

The elements may be selected by size, shape and composition. Preferably the flexible elements are of natural or synthetic filament material.

Preferably the elements comprise short lengths of fibres. It is much preferred that the admixture comprise a random mixture of different lengths because that will enable the fibres to interconnect more readily.

3 The rubber may be derived from a variety of sources. These include natural rubber, with or without carbon black and other additives or fillers. A wide range of synthetic rubbers may be used. These include styrene butadiene rubber, with or without natural rubber or polybutadiene and polybutadiene itself, polychloroprene; nitrile butadiene rubber; butyl and halo-butyl rubbers (copolymers of isobutyiene with small amounts of isoprene); ethylene propylene copolymers or terpolymers; and the like.

The rubber may be derived from a variety of sources and comprise natural rubber, mixtures of chloroprene; butyl; mostly SBR, some NBR; mostly butyl and halo-butyl (75%).

All the above rubbers are normally used as cross-linked vulcanisates, and are normally compounded with carbon black, various white fillers (clays, silicates, titanium dioxide) and plasticisers. The rubber content in a compound can vary from almost 100% to as little as 30%.

The shredding may be done in a suitable shredder; the granulation using a suitable mill.

The admixture may be mixed with a particulate filler to form a composition to be a resilient coherent surface. The filler may be sand. The sand is preferably a fine, rounded silica sand as opposed to angular particles, because such granules minimise the wearing effect on horses' hooves and reduce the natural sifting or packing down Because the particles of resilient material are held together within the matrix defined by the interlocked mass of fibre lengths the synthetic surface has a coherent structure which will withstand the impact forces of horses riding thereon. Inevitably dust will be released from the impacted particles of rubber but the dust will be trapped within the matrix and not rise to irritate horse or rider. The surface will withstand all weather conditions ranging from drought to flooding and freezing, without significant loss of its properties.

The surface is suitable for laying indoors or outdoors. It may be mixed and laid by conventional means for synthetic, sand-based surfaces and, for example, may be laid to form a rolled compacted surface of a depth of from about 50 mm to about 500 mm, preferably from 100 mm to 175 mm. It is suitable for any desired size of exercise or training track, e.g. from a small indoors surface of a few hundred square metres to an outdoor surface measured in hectares. The composition of the surface may be constituted so as to replicate so-called good going' turf regardless of the weather conditions. A synthetic surface of the invention is seen to good effect as an equestrian surface or track or gallop. It may also be useful for human use, e.g. as a golf course, football pitch, rugby pitch, baseball diamond and running track.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Claims

1. An admixture for incorporation into a synthetic surface, comprising elongate flexible elements selected to interconnect to form a substantially coherent surface.

2. An admixture according to Claim 1, wherein the flexible elements are of natural or synthetic filament material.

3. An admixture according to Claim 1 or 2 comprising short lengths of fibres.

4. An admixture according to any preceding Claim, comprising a random mixture of different lengths of the flexible elements.

5. An admixture according to any preceding Claim, including granules of fibre reinforced rubber, which have been treated to tease out the fibre reinforcement to provide the elongate flexible lengths, to some of which bits of rubber are still attached.

6. An admixture according to Claim 5, wherein scrap engine belts are the source of the fibre-reinforced rubber.

7. An admixture according to any preceding Claim, including particles of vulcanised natural or synthetic rubber.