Artificial turf and production method
AssigneePolytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
InventorStephan SICK
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides for a method of manufacturing artificial turf (1000). The method includes creating a polymer mixture, such as polymer mixture (400), where the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system. The polymer mixture includes a first polymer, a second polymer and a compatibilizer. The first polymer is a polyamide (PA) and the second polymer is a polyethylene (PE). The first polymer is included in an amount of 0.125 percent to 5 percent by weight, the second polymer is included in an amount of 60 percent to 97 percent by weight and the compatibilizer is included in an amount of 0.375 percent to 15 percent by weight. The first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, and the first polymer forms polymer beads surrounded by the compatibilizer within the second polymer.
Claims21
A method of manufacturing artificial turf, the method comprising the steps of:
- creating a polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system, wherein the polymer mixture comprises a first polymer, a second polymer, and a compatibilizer, wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, and wherein the first polymer forms polymer beads surrounded by the compatibilizer within the second polymer;
- extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament;
- quenching the monofilament;
- reheating the monofilament;
- stretching the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into fibrous regions and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber, the fibrous regions including the first polymer, the fibrous regions being at least partially surrounded by the compatibilizer and separated from the second polymer by the compatibilizer, and the fibrous regions being centrally located such that the fibrous regions do not delaminate after formation, and wherein the stretched monofilament comprises a round bulge and two protrusions which extend from the round bulge in opposite directions;
- incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.
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An artificial turf fiber comprising:
- fibrous regions of a first polymer, the fibrous regions being substantially surrounded by a compatibilizer and by a second polymer, the compatibilizer being situated between the first polymer and the second polymer such that the fibrous regions are centrally located and do not delaminate, and wherein the artificial turf fiber further comprises a round bulge and two protrusions which extend from the round bulge in opposite directions.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.