[0001] The invention relates to artificial turf infill and an artificial turf with artificial
turf infill.
[0002] Artificial turf or artificial grass is a surface that is made up of fibers and is
used to replace grass. The structure of the artificial turf is designed such that
the artificial turf has an appearance that resembles grass. Artificial turf is typically
used as a surface for sports such as soccer, American football, rugby, tennis and
golf, or for playing fields or exercise fields. Furthermore, artificial turf is frequently
used for landscaping applications.
[0003] Artificial turf may be manufactured using techniques for manufacturing carpets. For
example, artificial turf fibers, which have the appearance of grass blades, may be
tufted or attached to a backing. Oftentimes, artificial turf infill is placed between
the artificial turf fibers.
[0004] Artificial turf infill is a granular material that covers the bottom portion of the
artificial turf fibers. The use of artificial turf infill may have a number of advantages.
For example, artificial turf infill may help the artificial turf fibers stand up straight.
Artificial turf infill may also absorb impact from walking or running and provide
an experience similar to being on real turf. The artificial turf infill may also help
keep the artificial turf carpet flat and in place by weighing it down.
[0005] Even though the artificial turf infills known from the art are being constantly further
developed, rubber granulate or recycled (e.g. from car tires) rubber granulate is
still most commonly used as artificial turf infill. The most commonly used rubber
are styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) or ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), all
of which can be generated from recycled rubber (post-consumer-waste or post-industrial-waste)
or virgin material. Recycled rubbers are cost effective products as they are derived
from existing products that have reached the end of their service life. Even though
recycling of, e.g., used car tires to artificial turf infill particles has an environmentally
friendly aspect, concerns of potential health effects of synthetic turf sports fields
with vulcanized (either by peroxide or sulphur vulcanization) recycled rubber infill
have lately arisen due to the fear that numerous health affecting substances might
be released from the granulate. Another negative side effect of the use of rubber
as artificial turf infill is that in the hot season, when the outside surfaces are
subjected to severe heat, rubber based artificial turf infill materials tend to heat
to temperatures up to 20-40 °C above the ambient temperature.
[0006] It is therefore the purpose of the invention to provide an improved turf infill material,
which is environmentally friendly and less likely to release potentially health-affecting
substances.
[0007] The invention provides for an improved turf infill and an artificial turf with the
improved turf infill. The problem is solved by the features as specified in the independent
claims. Embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. The embodiments
and examples described herein can freely be combined with each other unless they are
mutually exclusive.
[0008] In one aspect, the invention provides for a turf infill comprising a mixture of cork
particles, wherein the cork particles are coated with a polymer and/or resin component,
and rubber particles, wherein the rubber particles are coated with a polymer and/or
resin component.
[0009] The particles of cork and rubber may be of any suitable shape, including granules,
gravel, grains and combinations thereof, and in various dimensions thereof.
[0010] The coating may be applied to the cork particles and rubber particles using any suitable
method, and such methods are well known in the art. The cork particles may be coated,
e.g. in a flow reactor or batch reactor, separately from the rubber particles or both
(rubber particles and cork particles) may be coated simultaneously, e.g. in the same
flow reactor or batch reactor. Methods for coating the particles are disclosed for
example in
WO 2017/153261, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
[0011] It is intended that the polymer and/or resin component of the coatings does not show
any environmental toxicity. Possible polymer and/or resin components are selected
from the group consisting of polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), acrylic resin,
acrylate monomers, methacrylates, methyl acrylates and blends thereof.
[0012] The use of cork particles as part of the mixture of the inventive turf infill may
be beneficial, as cork is a renewable raw material derived from the bark of the cork
oak (Quercus suber) from sustainably managed sources, and the particles can also be
recycled from leftover material, e.g. from bottle cork production. Furthermore, cork
is not known to have any environmental toxicity, has insulating properties with low
heat absorption when exposed to sunlight and has elastic features. Hence cork particles
as part of the mixture of the inventive turf infill may be beneficial, even though
the U.V. resistance and the mechanical stability/resistance are limited.
[0013] The coating of the cork particles may be beneficial, as the coating may weigh down
the relatively light cork particles. This can reduce the tendency of cork to float
away during heavy rainfall or be blown away by wind and may reduce the unmixing of
particles of different weight. The coating can comprise one or more layers. The layers
can have the same or different thickness. The polymer and/or resin component of the
layers of the coating may be the same or different. In addition, coating may have
the effect that coated cork particles cling together or are honed by friction during
particle movement and the abrasion and wear is thus reduced, and the mechanical stability
may be increased.
[0014] The coating of the known rubber particles may be beneficial, as the coating may prevent
the possibly health-affecting substances to be released from the rubber particles.
Hence, rubber particles recycled even from car tires, e.g. in the shape of granules,
can be used for the inventive infill material. The coating can comprise one or more
layers. The layers can have the same or different thickness. The polymer and/or resin
component of the layers of the coating may be the same or different.
[0015] The combination of cork particles and rubber particles may be beneficial in many
aspects, as both cork particles and rubber particles can be recycled from previously
manufactured materials, e.g. rubber particles from car tires and cork particles from
e.g. leftover material from bottle cork production. In addition, cork is a renewable
raw material. Furthermore, the heating up of the artificial turf to high temperatures
(i.e., to temperatures well above the ambient temperature), caused by the heating
up of rubber particles, may be reduced due to the insulating properties of cork particles.
Further, the coating of the cork particles and the rubber particles, which may, e.g.,
have a higher coefficient of friction than rubber or cork and/or may be slightly sticky,
may slow the segregation (unmixing) over time due to different weights or sizes.
[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, the weight percentage ratio of the cork particles
to the rubber particles is between 1 : 4 and 1 : 8, in particular between 1 : 5.5
and 1 : 6.5.
[0017] This proportion of weight percentage is beneficial, as the bulk density and/or poured
density (freely settled bulk density) of the cork particles is much lighter than the
bulk density and/or poured density of the rubber particles. Therefore, in order to
obtain an optimal weight distribution of cork particles and rubber particles, the
weight percentage ratio can be chosen to be between 1 : 4 and 1 : 8. This weight percentage
ratio range is beneficial as it may provide that the size and the surface areas of
both the cork and rubber particles is within the same range, thus the friction resistance
between the particles, e.g. cork particles and rubber particles, is basically homogenous.
In order to obtain an approximately even number of cork particles and rubber particles,
the weight percentage ratio can be chosen to be between 1 : 5.5 and 1 : 6.5. Due to
this optimized weight percentage ration, it may also be possible to achieve that the
optical perception of the particles is homogeneous.
[0018] According to one embodiment it is envisaged that the infill is configured such that
the
- poured density of the coated cork particles is between any one of the following: 90
g/dm3 and 180 g/dm3, 100 g/dm3 and 150 g/dm3, and 125 g/dm3 and 135 g/dm3; and the
- poured density of the coated rubber particles is between any one of the following:
400 g/dm3 and 650 g/dm3, 450 g/dm3 and 600 g/dm3, and 530 g/dm3 and 550 g/dm3.
[0019] In one embodiment of the invention the polymer and/or resin component of the coating
of the cork particles and/or rubber particles is polyurethane (PU).
[0020] A polyurethane coating may be beneficial as fully reacted polyurethane polymer is
considered to be chemically inert and thus environmental friendly and may be produced
as a hard, abrasion-resistant, and durable coating, which may seal the rubber granule.
[0021] Alternatively, the polymer and/or resin component of the coating of the cork particles
and/or rubber particles is polyvinyl butyral (PVB).
[0022] The use of PVB as a coating may be beneficial, as PVB is a resin, which can be prepared
from polyvinyl alcohol by reaction with butyraldehyde, and can be acquired from remnants
during production of laminated glass or can be recycled from laminated glass. PVB
may be used as a protective layer around the particles. In addition, PVB has good
adhesion to rubber and cork, may be sticky, and is tough and flexible.
[0023] In on embodiment of the invention, the coating of the cork particles comprises fillers,
in particular barium sulphate (barite), calcium carbonate (chalk), talc, quartz silica,
other silicates, other oxides (such as iron oxides), hydro oxides, hollow glass spheres,
organic fillers or a combination thereof.
[0024] The use of fillers can be advantageous, as the fillers are able to increase the weight
of the coating and may thus increase the overall poured density of the coated cork
particles. Thus, as the weight of the coated particles increases, the risk of coated
cork floating away during heavy rainfall or being blown away by strong wind is further
reduced. In is envisaged that the coating may comprise between 0.1 wt.% to 60 wt.%
of fillers.
[0025] In one embodiment it is envisaged that the coating of the cork particles comprises
barium sulphate (barite) and/or calcium carbonate (chalk) as fillers, to increase
the total weight of the artificial turf infill.
[0026] Barium sulphate (barite) and calcium carbonate (chalk) are particular advantageous,
as they have a high density, e.g. calcium carbonate has a density of 2.7 g/cm
3 and barium sulphate has a density between 4.0 and 4.5 g/cm
3, are relatively cheap materials and may be used to provide a dense coating.
[0027] According to one embodiment the coating of the cork particles and/or rubber particles
comprises particles selected from the group consisting of colored pigments, copper(II)
sulfate particles, silver particles, chitosan particles or mixtures thereof.
[0028] The colored pigments may be inorganic, such as, e.g., iron oxide pigments, chromium
oxide pigments and/or cobalt oxide pigments, or organic pigments. Further, the colored
pigments may be infrared-reflective pigments, which are beneficial due to their ability
to reflect infrared light. This may reduce the heating of the artificial turf infill.
Further, as the infrared-reflective colored pigments may be contained solely in the
applied coating, the costs for the comparably expensive and precious pigments, being
merely on the surface of the cork particles and/or rubber particles, is reduced.
[0029] Copper(II) sulfate particles and/or chrome particles and/or iron oxide particles
may be further beneficial due to their color, relatively low manufacturing costs and/or
antibacterial properties. Other antibacterial components that may be used are silver
and/or chitosan particles, both of which have natural antibacterial properties.
[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the overall layer thickness of the
coating of the cork particles and/or rubber particles is between 0.1 µm and 1 mm,
or between 0.5 µm to 750 µm, or between10 µm to 150 µm. The coating of the cork particles
and/or rubber particles may each comprise one or more (sub-)layers. The (sub-)layers
may have the same or different thicknesses, however, the sum of the individual layer
thicknesses is between 0.1 µm and 1 mm. In one embodiment, the overall layer thickness
of the coating of the cork particles and/or rubber particles is between 10 µm and
150 µm.
[0031] It is contemplated that the particles can be coated with one layer or with more layers.
To increase the likelihood that that the particles are fully encapsulated and thus
no possibly health-affecting substances may be released, it may be beneficial to coat
the particles two or more times.
[0032] According to one embodiment, the size of the coated cork particles is between any
one of the following: 0.03 mm and 3.5 mm, and 0.3 mm and 2.5 mm; and the size of the
coated rubber particles is between any one of the following: 0.03 mm and 3.5 mm, and
0.3 mm and 2.5 mm
[0033] This configuration allows for a well-adjusted particle size distribution for artificial
turf. Furthermore, the (natural) particle size distribution within each range allows
the particles to be packed more densely.
[0034] It is feasible that the turf infill further comprises microporous zeolite mineral
particles. The microporous zeolite mineral particles have pores that form openings
on the outer surface of the microporous zeolite mineral particles. Hence, the use
of the microporous zeolite mineral as an infill material is advantageous, as the particles
are able to regulate the presence of water and may thus provide for a cooling effect
of the surface of the artificial turf. Hence, an increased playing comfort can be
reached when the outside temperatures are high.
[0035] The microporous zeolite mineral particle may be selected from the group consisting
of chabazite, erionite, mordenite, clinoptilolite, faujasite, phillipsite, zeolite
A, zeolite L, zeolite Y, zeolite X and ZSM-5. The zeolite used may thus be a zeolite
that can be natural or obtained by synthesis.
[0036] Since artificial turf infill may be used to modify an artificial turf carpet to have
more earth-like properties, a microporous zeolite, with a Mohs hardness above 3 and/or
a strong absorbent power and/or a color that approximately resembles one of the well-known
surface colors (e.g., red, brown, green), may preferably be used. The most preferred
microporous zeolite mineral may be of the chabazite and/or clinoptinolite and/or mordenite
type.
[0037] It is envisaged that the particle size of the microporous zeolite mineral particles
is between any one of the following: 0.5 mm and 3.5 mm and 1.0 mm and 2.5 mm, and
the weight percentage ratio of the microporous zeolite mineral particles to the cork
particles and the rubber particles is between 2 : 7 and 4 : 7, in particular between
2.5 : 7 and 3.5 : 7.
[0038] For the microporous zeolite mineral particles it may be envisaged that the outer
surface of at least some microporous zeolite mineral particles is partly covered with
a polyurethane coating. Hereby it may be feasible that 75 % to 99 % of the outer surface
of a microporous zeolite mineral particle is partly covered with a polyurethane coating.
[0039] For this embodiment it is provided that the partial covering is applied on each side
of each microporous zeolite mineral particle, but that there are gaps (holes) in the
covering enclosing the particles. The partial coating is advantageous, since water
can be absorbed and/or released by the microporous zeolite mineral particles through
the pores contained in its surface areas, which are not covered by the polyurethane
coating. In addition, since the microporous zeolite mineral particles are partly coated
with the polyurethane coating, natural occurrence of abrasion and wear of the microporous
zeolite mineral during use may be reduced, since the polyurethane coating may provide
for a harder and thus protective surface compared to uncoated microporous zeolite
mineral particles. It may also be advantageous that the Mohs hardness of polyurethane
coating can be chosen to be higher or much higher than the Mohs hardness of the microporous
zeolite mineral particles. It may be thus beneficial that the Mohs hardness of the
polyurethane coating is at least one Mohs unit higher than the Mohs hardness of the
selected microporous zeolite mineral particles.
[0040] The gaps in the coating of the inventive infill material may result during the manufacture
of the infill material, as during the mixing, e.g. in a flow reactor or a batch reactor
or a tumbler, the microporous zeolite mineral particles and a liquid polyurethane
reaction mixture are mixed and while they are being mixed a solidification reaction
is initiated. During the mixing and while the solidification takes place, the microporous
zeolite mineral particles physically touch and interact with each other, thereby causing
collision defects (e.g. gaps) in the coating and partly leaving the surface of the
microporous zeolite particles uncovered. Thus, water may still be absorbed and released
by the microporous zeolite mineral particles in these areas in which the pores of
the microporous zeolite minerals are not covered by the polyurethane coating.
[0041] It is further envisaged for this embodiment that the polyurethane coating extends
over some of the pores forming respective covers of the pore openings, wherein the
polyurethane coating coats a portion of the inner surface of the covered pores in
the region of the cover. The coating may penetrate a slight distance, for example
between 0.2 µm and 500 µm, preferably between 1 and 150 µm and most preferred between
10 µm and 100 µm into the surface pores and thus may interfere with the pores in a
form-locking manner. Thereby the hold of the coating on the microporous zeolite mineral
particles may be increased and at the same time the overall stability and hardness
of the microporous zeolite mineral particles may be increased.
[0042] Further, since the infill material is preferably produced by mixing the microporous
zeolite mineral particles with a liquid polyurethane reaction mixture and initializing
the solidification reaction during the mixing, the microporous zeolite mineral particles
have the same amount of their outer surface covered by the coating relative to the
total outer surface. Substantially the same amount means that the outer surface of
each of the partly coated microporous zeolite mineral particle is coated between 20
% and 99 %, preferably between 50 % to 98 % or between 70% to 99 %, with the polyurethane
coating. Further, since the outer surface of each of the partly coated microporous
zeolite mineral particle is - with the exception of the gaps - essentially fully coated,
fine dusts may be bound.
[0043] The polyurethane coating of the microporous zeolite mineral particles may be based
on a liquid polyurethane reaction mixture, which may be a dispersion or solution,
comprising
- at least one isocyanic prepolymer with a totally blocked isocyanic functionality;
- a hydroxyl component, wherein the hydroxyl component is selected from the group of
polyether polyol or polyester polyol; and
- at least one catalyst selected from the group consisting of linear or cyclic tertiary
amines such as triethylenediamine, or e.g.1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, cyclic amines
such as 1,8-Diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-7-ene (DBU) and inorganic compounds such as sodium
hydroxide (NaoH), chromium(III) oxide and zinc oxide (ZnO).
[0044] The use of an above-described liquid polyurethane reaction mixture may be advantageous,
because it is a reaction mixture that can be solidified or cured (e.g., by cross-linking)
under heat and/or by adding water. Therefore, the zeolite mineral particles and the
liquid polyurethane reaction mixture may be mixed and solidified simultaneously in
a batch reactor, a continuous reactor or a tumbler, resulting in the partial polyurethane
coating or the coating with gaps. Further, the resulting polyurethane coating may
be a waterborne polyurethane coating.
[0045] Alternatively, the polyurethane coating of the microporous zeolite mineral particles
may be based on a liquid polyurethane reaction mixture comprising:
- i. NCO terminal polymer, one or more component selected from a prepolymer, a polymeric
isocyanate, an oligomeric isocyanate, a monomer, such as
- a. aromatic diisocyanate of the group of toluene diisocyanate and/or methylene- 2,2
-diisocyanate or
- b. aliphatic diisocyanate of the group hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate,
and/or 1,4-cyclohexyldisiocyanate; and
- ii. Hydroxyl component, wherein the hydroxyl component is selected from the group
of polyether polyol or polyester polyol.
[0046] The use of an above-described liquid polyurethane reaction mixture may be advantageous,
because it is a reaction mixture that can be solidified or cured (e.g., by cross-linking)
by adding a catalyst, e.g. a secondary amine catalyst, a tertiary amine catalyst,
such as triethylenediamine or e.g.1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, cyclic amines such
as 1,8-Diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-7-ene (DBU) or a metal organic catalyst, and water.
Therefore, the zeolite mineral particles and the liquid polyurethane reaction mixture
may be mixed and solidified simultaneously in a controlled manner in a batch or continuous
reactor, resulting in the partial polyurethane coating or the coating with holes.
[0047] The polyurethane coating of the microporous zeolite mineral particles may further
comprise a rheology additive that is adapted to induce a thixotropic flow behavior
in one of the above described liquid polyurethane reaction mixtures.
[0048] Adding a rheology additive with thixotropic capabilities may be advantageous in order
to achieve a controllable viscosity-increasing thixotropic flow behavior of the (e.g.,
liquid or fluid) polyurethane coating while applying it, e.g. by mixing the liquid
polyurethane reaction mixture with the microporous zeolite mineral particles, to the
surface of the microporous zeolite mineral particles in order to control or reduce
the depth of penetration of the liquid polyurethane reaction mixture into the pores
contained in the surfaces of the microporous zeolite mineral particles.
[0049] Suitable rheology additives may be e.g. fumed silica (e.g. synthetic, hydrophobic,
amorphous silica), also known as pyrogenic silica, made from flame pyrolysis of silicon
tetrachloride or from quartz sand vaporized in a 3000 °C electric arc, hydrophobic
fumed silica, bentonite, acrylates or a combination of the aforementioned additives.
[0050] It may be further beneficial that at least some of the microporous zeolite mineral
particles are charged with a salt solution.
[0051] Microporous zeolite mineral particles charged with salt ions, may allow for an increased
water adsorption and/or water desorption effect.
[0052] This incorporation of salt into the microporous zeolite mineral particles allows
a synergy to operate between the following properties: the adsorption, absorption
and release of water of the microporous zeolite mineral particles, and the ability
to lower the freezing temperature of the water. Actually, in the presence of humidity,
the microporous mineral particle is in a position to adsorb and/or absorb this humidity
in order to prevent, on the one hand, the surface formation of a layer of slippery
frost, in the case of a negative temperature, and on the other hand, the agglomeration
of the turf infills.
[0053] In the context of using the microporous mineral particles on outside artificial turf
surfaces that are subjected to severe heat, the coated rubber and coated cork particles
in combination with the microporous mineral particles, which are loaded with salt
and water, may further allow a further increased release of the water and the maintenance
of relative humidity at the surface of said turf. Thus, on a turf surface subjected
to severe heat, when it is refreshed by watering, the microporous mineral loaded with
salt adsorbs and/or absorbs the water and then continuously releases those water molecules
by desorption. This continuous release of the water by the microporous mineral avoids
rapid evaporation of the water after watering the surface and allows a lower temperature
to be maintained at the level of the field surface compared to the ambient temperature.
Said microporous mineral loaded with salt thus further reduces the amount of watering
usually necessary to refresh a turf surface.
[0054] In a further aspect, the invention relates to turf infill, as described above, for
an artificial turf comprising an artificial turf carpet, wherein the artificial turf
carpet comprises multiple artificial turf fiber tufts, and wherein the turf infill
is configured for scattering between the multiple artificial turf fiber tufts of the
artificial turf.
[0055] In a further aspect, the invention relates to an artificial turf, wherein the artificial
turf comprises an artificial turf carpet, wherein the artificial turf carpet comprises
multiple artificial turf fiber tufts, and a turf infill, as described above, which
is scattered between the multiple artificial turf fiber tufts.
[0056] It is understood that one or more of the aforementioned embodiments of the invention
may be combined as long as the combined embodiments are not mutually exclusive.
[0057] Below, the following embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail,
by way of example only, making reference to the drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1
- illustrates an example of artificial turf with an artificial turf carpet and turf
infill scattered between the artificial turf fiber tufts;
- Fig. 2
- shows a detail from Fig. 1, where the alignment of cork particles and rubber particles
is enlarged;
- Fig. 3
- illustrates the coated cork particles and rubber particles in sectional views;
- Fig. 4
- illustrates the coated cork particles and rubber particles in sectional views, wherein
the coating of the cork particles contains fillers and the coating of the rubber granules
comprises two layers;
- Fig. 5
- shows a turf infill comprising coated cork particles, coated rubber particles and
microporous zeolite particles;
- Fig. 6
- illustrates a sectional view of a microporous zeolite mineral particle, which is partially
coated with a polyurethane coating;
- Fig. 7
- illustrates a section of the sectional view of Fig. 6; and
- Fig. 8
- illustrates a partially coated microporous zeolite mineral particle.
[0058] Like-numbered elements in these figures are either equivalent elements or perform
the same function. Elements that have been discussed previously will not necessarily
be discussed in later figures if the function is equivalent.
[0059] In Fig. 1, an artificial turf 600 with artificial turf carpet 500 is shown. The artificial
turf carpet 500 contains a backing 502. The artificial turf carpet 500 is a tufted
artificial turf carpet, which is formed by artificial turf fiber tufts 504 that are
tufted into the backing 502. The artificial turf fiber tufts 504 are tufted in rows.
There is row spacing 506 between adjacent rows of tufts. The artificial turf fiber
tufts 504 also extend a distance above the backing 502. The distance that the fibers
504 extend above the backing 502 is the pile height 508. In Fig. 1, it can be further
seen that the artificial turf carpet 500 has been installed by placing or attaching
it to the ground 510 or a floor. As can be further seen, the turf infill 100 has been
spread out on the surface and distributed between the artificial turf fiber tufts
504. The turf infill 100 comprises coated cork particles (here granules) and coated
rubber particles (here granules).
[0060] In Fig. 2 a detail from Fig. 1 is shown to visualize the turf infill comprising cork
particles 200, wherein the cork particles 200 are coated with a polymer and/or resin
component, and rubber particles 300, wherein the rubber particles 300 are coated with
a polymer and/or resin component. The cork granules 200 and the rubber granules 300
both have a coating, which may, e.g., have a higher coefficient of friction than rubber
or cork by themselves or may be slightly sticky. The coating may slow the segregation
(unmixing) over time due to different weights or sizes of the different granules.
In order to obtain an optimal weight distribution of the coated cork particles 200
and the coated rubber particles 300, the weight percentage ratio can be chosen to
be between 1 : 4 and 1 : 8.
[0061] In Fig. 3 the coated cork particles 200 and the coated rubber particles 300 of the
turf infill are depicted. The coating 202 of the cork particles 200 is manufactured
from a polymer and/or resin component, which may be polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl
butyral (PVB). The coating 302 of the rubber particles 300 is also manufactured from
a polymer and/or resin component, which may be polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl butyral
(PVB).
[0062] Fig. 4 depicts the coated cork particles 200 and the coated rubber particles 300
of the turf infill. As shown, the coating 202 of the cork particles 200 comprises
fillers, here barium sulphate particles 204 and calcium carbonate particles 205. It
shall be understood, that it is also feasible that either only barium sulphate particles
204 or only calcium carbonate particles 205 may be used as fillers. The use of both
described fillers can be advantageous, as these fillers are able to increase the weight
of the coating 202 and may thus increase the overall poured density of the coated
cork particles 200. As further shown, the coating 302 of the rubber particles 300
is comprised of two layers, an inner layer 302a and an outer layer 302b. The double-layer
coating may prevent possibly health-affecting substances to be released from the rubber
particles 300.
[0063] Fig. 5 depicts the turf infill 100 comprising microporous zeolite minerals 400, cork
particles 200, wherein the cork particles 200 are coated with a polymer and/or resin
component, and rubber particles 300, wherein the rubber particles 300 are coated with
a polymer and/or resin component. The microporous zeolite minerals 400 may be uncoated
microporous zeolite minerals 400 or partially coated microporous zeolite minerals
400 as depicted in Figures 6 to 8.
[0064] Fig. 6 shows a microporous zeolite mineral particle after it has been partially coated
with a polyurethane coating 420 and may thus be used as part of an infill material.
As can be seen, at least some parts of the surface of the coated microporous zeolite
mineral particle 400 are not covered by the polyurethane coating 420. In Fig. 6 a
dotted circle is also indicated, the schematic content of which is enlarged in Fig.
7.
[0065] As shown in the enlarged sectional view in Fig. 7 the microporous zeolite mineral
particle 400, which contains pores 411, has been partially coated with a polyurethane
coating 420. The polyurethane coating 420 was formed by providing microporous zeolite
mineral particles 400 and a liquid polyurethane reaction mixture in a batch reactor,
tumbler or continuous reactor. Simultaneous mixing and initialization of the solidification
reaction lead to the desired partial coating of the polyurethane coating 420 on the
surface of the microporous zeolite mineral particle 400. The partial coating results
from microporous zeolite mineral particles 400 colliding while being mixed with the
initialized liquid polyurethane reaction mixture. Since the initialization of the
solidification reaction takes place simultaneously, uncovered spaces (gaps or holes),
created by collisions, remain on the surface of the microporous zeolite mineral particles.
Further, as shown in Fig. 7 the polyurethane coating 420 coats a portion of the inner
surface of the microporous zeolite mineral particle 400 in the region of the cover.
The coating 420 may penetrate with a slight distance, for example between 0.2 µm and
500 µm, preferably between 1 and 150 µm and most preferred between 10 µm and 100 µm
into the surface pores 411 and thus may interfere with the pores 411 in a form-locking
manner. Thereby the hold of the coating on the microporous zeolite mineral particle
400 may be increased and at the same time the overall stability and hardness of the
microporous zeolite mineral particle 400 may be increased. Further, since the partially
coated microporous zeolite mineral particle 400 is preferably produced by mixing the
microporous zeolite mineral particles with a liquid polyurethane reaction mixture
and initializing the solidification reaction during the mixing, the microporous zeolite
mineral particles have substantially the same amount of their outer surface covered
by the coating relative to the total outer surface. Substantially the same amount
means that the outer surface of each microporous zeolite mineral particle is covered
between 20 % and 99 %, preferably between 50 % to 98 % or between 70% to 99 %, with
the polyurethane coating 420. Since the outer surface of each microporous zeolite
mineral particle 400 is - with the exception of the gaps - essentially fully coated,
fine dusts may be bound. The polyurethane coating 420 may comprise a rheology additive.
The rheology additive may be added in order to achieve thixotropic flow behavior of
the liquid polyurethane reaction mixture during mixing of the liquid polyurethane
reaction mixture with the microporous zeolite mineral particle 400.
[0066] Fig. 8 depicts a partly coated microporous zeolite mineral particle 400. The microporous
zeolite mineral particle 400 has pores 411 that form openings on the outer surface
of the microporous zeolite mineral particles 400. As shown, the outer surface of the
microporous zeolite mineral particles 400 is partly coated with a polyurethane coating
420, wherein the coating extends over most of the pores 411, thereby forming respective
covers of the openings. The polyurethane coating 420 was formed by providing a plurality
of microporous zeolite minerals particles 400 and a liquid polyurethane reaction mixture
in a batch reactor, tumbler or continuous reactor. Simultaneous mixing and initialization
of the solidification reaction lead to the desired partial coating of the polyurethane
coating 420 on the surface of the microporous zeolite mineral particle 400. The partial
coating results from collisions of microporous zeolite mineral particles 400 while
being mixed with the initialized liquid polyurethane reaction mixture. Since the initialization
of the solidification reaction takes place simultaneously, uncovered spaces (e.g.,
gaps or holes), created by collisions, remain on the surface of the microporous zeolite
mineral particles. As indicated in Fig. 8, it may be feasible that 75 % to 99 % of
the outer surface of the microporous zeolite mineral particle is partly covered with
a polyurethane coating 420.
List of Reference Numerals
[0067]
- 100
- turf infill
- 200
- cork particles
- 202
- coating of the cork particles
- 203
- fillers comprised in the coating of the cork particles
- 204
- barium sulphate particles
- 205
- calcium carbonate particles
- 300
- rubber particles
- 302
- coating of the rubber particles
- 400
- microporous zeolite mineral particles
- 411
- microporous zeolite mineral particle pores
- 420
- polyurethane coating of microporous zeolite mineral particles
- 500
- artificial turf carpet
- 502
- backing
- 504
- artificial turf fiber tufts
- 506
- row spacing between adjacent rows of tufts
- 508
- pile height
- 510
- ground or floor
- 600
- artificial turf
1. Turf infill (100) comprising a mixture of
- cork particles (200), wherein the cork particles (200) are coated with a polymer
and/or resin component, and
- rubber particles (300), wherein the rubber particles (300) are coated with a polymer
and/or resin component.
2. Turf infill (100) according to claim 1, wherein the weight percentage ratio of the
cork particles (200) to the rubber particles (300) is between 1 : 4 and 1 : 8, in
particular between 1 : 5.5 and 1 : 6.5.
3. Turf infill (100) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the infill is configured
such that the
- poured density of the coated cork particles is between any one of the following:
90 g/dm3 and 180 g/dm3, 100 g/dm3 and 150 g/dm3, and 125 g/dm3 and 135 g/dm3; and the
- poured density of the coated rubber particles is between any one of the following:
400 g/dm3 and 650 g/dm3, 450 g/dm3 and 600 g/dm3, and 530 g/dm3 and 550 g/dm3.
4. Turf infill (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the polymer and/or resin
component of the coating (202; 302) of the cork particles (200) and/or rubber particles
(300) is polyurethane (PU).
5. Turf infill (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the polymer and/or resin
component of the coating (202; 302) of the cork particles (200) and/or rubber particles
(300) is polyvinyl butyral (PVB).
6. Turf infill (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the coating (202) of
the cork particles (200) comprises fillers (203), in particular barium sulphate (204),
calcium carbonate (205), talc, quartz silica, silicates, oxides, hydro oxides, hollow
glass spheres, organic fillers or a combination thereof.
7. Turf infill (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the coating (202) of
the cork particles (200) and/or the coating (302) of the rubber particles (300) comprises
particles selected from the group consisting of colored pigments, copper(II) sulfate
particles, chrome particles, silver particles, chitosan particles or mixtures thereof.
8. Turf infill (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the layer
thickness of the coating (202; 302) of the cork particles (200) and/or rubber particles
(300) is between 0.5 µm and 0.75 mm.
9. Turf infill (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a size of
the coated cork particles is between any one of the following: 0.03 mm and 3.5 mm,
and 0.3 mm and 2.5 mm; and wherein a size of the coated rubber particles is between
any one of the following: 0.03 mm and 3.5 mm, and 0.3 mm and 2.5 mm.
10. Turf infill (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising microporous
zeolite mineral particles (400) having pores (411) that form openings on the outer
surface of the microporous zeolite mineral particles (400), with a particle size between
any one of the following: 0.5 mm and 3.5 mm and 1.0 mm and 2.5 mm; wherein the weight
percentage ratio of the microporous zeolite mineral particles (400) to the cork particles
(200) and the rubber particles (300) is between 2 : 7 and 4 : 7, in particular between
2.5 : 7 and 3.5 : 7.
11. Turf infill (100) according claim 10, wherein the outer surface of at least some of
the microporous zeolite mineral particles (400) is partly coated with a polyurethane
coating (420), wherein the coating extends over some of the pores (411) forming respective
covers (430) of the openings, wherein the polyurethane coating (420) coats a portion
of the inner surface of the covered pores (411) in the region of the cover (430) and
wherein the microporous zeolite mineral particles (400) have the same amount of their
outer surface coated by the coating (420) relative to the total outer surface.
12. Turf infill (100) according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein at least some of the
microporous zeolite mineral particles (400) are charged with a salt solution
13. Turf infill (100) according to any of the preceding claims for use with an artificial
turf (600) comprising an artificial turf carpet (500), wherein the artificial turf
carpet comprises multiple artificial turf fiber tufts (504), and wherein the turf
infill (100) is configured for scattering between the multiple artificial turf fiber
tufts (504) of the artificial turf (600).
14. An artificial turf (600), wherein the artificial turf comprises:
- an artificial turf carpet (500), wherein the artificial turf carpet comprises multiple
artificial turf fiber tufts (504); and
- a turf infill (100) according to one of the claims 1 to 12, which is scattered between
the multiple artificial turf fiber tufts (504).