Artificial turf for use with an artificial turf system, which may also include a base layer and a support layer. The artificial turf comprising a backing supporting pile tufts of between ¼″ to 4″ in length, in position on its upper surface. The backing may comprise a porous synthetic foam or backing sheet. A filler of particles shaped to have no sharp edges and of substantially equal size are interspersed over the backing and about the tufts up to at least half thick length. The artificial turf substantially retains its resiliency, porosity and equal density throughout.

A tufted geotextile for covering a land surface, comprising a porous backing sheet densely tufted to provide simulated grass blades having interstices therebetween on a tuft gauge of about 20 tufts per foot to about 50 tufts per foot and the adjacent lines spaced about ¼ inch, the interstices for receiving an infill from the backing sheet to a fill plane to increase shading of the interstices by the tuft blades on the backing sheet while resisting hydraulic displacement and movement of the infill while overlying the ground surface for covering purposes. A closure system is disclosed using the tufted geotextile as a component overlying an impermeable geomembrane for resisting inflow of water below the ground surface.

A tufted geotextile for covering a land surface, comprising a porous backing sheet densely tufted to provide simulated grass blades having interstices therebetween on a tuft gauge of about 20 tufts per foot to about 50 tufts per foot and the adjacent lines spaced about ¼ inch, the interstices for receiving an infill from the backing sheet to a fill plane to increase shading of the interstices by the tuft blades on the backing sheet while resisting hydraulic displacement and movement of the infill while overlying the ground surface for covering purposes. A closure system is disclosed using the tufted geotextile as a component overlying an impermeable geomembrane for resisting inflow of water below the ground surface.

A method of manufacturing artificial turf creating a liquid polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture is at least a two-phase system. A first one of the phases includes a first polymer and a first dye, and a second one of the phases of the polymer mixture includes a second polymer and a second dye of a different color than the first dye. The first and the second phase are immiscible, the first phase forming polymer beads within the second phase. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament including a marbled pattern of the first and second color; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into threadlike regions and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber; and incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.

A method of manufacturing artificial turf creating a liquid polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture is at least a two-phase system. A first one of the phases includes a first polymer and a first dye, and a second one of the phases of the polymer mixture includes a second polymer and a second dye of a different color than the first dye. The first and the second phase are immiscible, the first phase forming polymer beads within the second phase. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament including a marbled pattern of the first and second color; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into threadlike regions and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber; and incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.

Apparatus and methods for revitalizing artificial turf fields are disclosed. In one exemplary apparatus, the apparatus may comprise a support frame, a plurality of shearing machines installed on the support frame, and a plurality of wheels installed on the support frame. The support frame may be configured to position the shearing machines parallel to each other, to tilt the shearing machines with respect a surface of the artificial turf field, and to position the shearing machines above a surface of the field at a distance such that the shearing machines cut fibers to produce trimmed fibers that have a length that can extend above infill or topmost layer of the artificial turf field. Methods for revitalizing artificial turf fields using the same are also disclosed.

Apparatus and methods for revitalizing artificial turf fields are disclosed. In one exemplary apparatus, the apparatus may comprise a support frame, a plurality of shearing machines installed on the support frame, and a plurality of wheels installed on the support frame. The support frame may be configured to position the shearing machines parallel to each other, to tilt the shearing machines with respect a surface of the artificial turf field, and to position the shearing machines above a surface of the field at a distance such that the shearing machines cut fibers to produce trimmed fibers that have a length that can extend above infill or topmost layer of the artificial turf field. Methods for revitalizing artificial turf fields using the same are also disclosed.

A synthetic turf seam integration template system and method is provided that includes a template having a planar base with a perpendicularly joined positioner. The planar base is configured with a longitudinal cutting edge with a predetermined curvature and an opposing longitudinal non-cutting edge. The positioner, which aids in moving the template, is attached to the non-cutting edge. Variations of the predetermined curvature patterns are disclosed. An optional connector allows connection of two templates to create a longer template for usage on longer seams. Also disclosed are methods of using the seam integration tool in creating an undetectable seam in synthetic turf.

A polymer filament comprising a polyolefin composition which comprises at least 10% by weight of one or more copolymer(s) (I) of propylene with one or more comonomers selected from ethylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.10 α-olefins and their combinations, said copolymer or copolymers (I) having MFR from 0.5 to 10 g/10 min. and containing units deriving from the said comonomers in a total amount of from 0.5 to 25% by weight with respect to the total amount of all momoner units in the copolymer, provided that, in the absence of comonomer units deriving from C.sub.6-C.sub.10 α-olefins, the amount of comonomer units deriving from ethylene or C.sub.4-C.sub.5 α-olefins or their combinations is at least 2.5% by weight.

A polymer filament comprising a polyolefin composition which comprises at least 10% by weight of one or more copolymer(s) (I) of propylene with one or more comonomers selected from ethylene, C.sub.4-C.sub.10 α-olefins and their combinations, said copolymer or copolymers (I) having MFR from 0.5 to 10 g/10 min. and containing units deriving from the said comonomers in a total amount of from 0.5 to 25% by weight with respect to the total amount of all momoner units in the copolymer, provided that, in the absence of comonomer units deriving from C.sub.6-C.sub.10 α-olefins, the amount of comonomer units deriving from ethylene or C.sub.4-C.sub.5 α-olefins or their combinations is at least 2.5% by weight.