FILLING STRUCTURE FOR SYNTHETIC TURF comprising artificial grass (1) provided with synthetic mat (2) from which filaments (3) protrude, being that under the synthetic mat (2) a filling layer (4), formed by sand and plant materials, such as rice husk, soybean hulls, coconut, sugar cane and bamboo fiber, is noted both in the form of fibers and/or grated, arranged between the filaments (4).

An underlayment layer is configured to support an artificial turf assembly. The underlayment layer comprises plurality of panels, each panel comprising a core with a top side and a bottom side. The top side has a plurality of top projections. The top projections form top side water drainage channels. The panels have edges, with the edges of one panel abutting the edges of adjacent panels, thereby forming a drainage path between adjacent panels. The panel edges have vertical support extensions that extend into the drainage paths between adjacent panels. The vertical support extensions have an upper surface for supporting an artificial turf assembly overlying the turf underlayment layer, and the panel edges having one or more complementary indentations corresponding to vertical support extensions of adjacent panels. When the panels move toward each other, thereby closing drainage paths between adjacent panels, the vertical support extensions are received in the corresponding indentations.

The invention comprises a method. The method comprises applying to a primary backing and loop backs of a tufted synthetic turf a plurality of solid polymer particles having a particle size less than or equal to 1,000 microns such that a layer of solid polymer particles is formed across the width and length of the primary backing, wherein the polymer particles are applied to the primary backing at a rate of approximately 10 to approximately 18 ounces of polymer per square yard and wherein the solid polymer particles are thermoplastic polymer particles or a mixture of thermoplastic polymer particles and thermosetting polymer particles. The method also comprises heating the polymer particles on the primary backing and loop backs to a temperature at or above the melting temperature of the polymer particles and allowing the heated polymer particles to cool below their melting temperature wherein the tufted synthetic turf has bundle lock of at least 6.8 pounds and the tufted synthetic turf has a water permeability of at least 10 inches of water per hour.

An underlayment layer is configured to support an artificial turf assembly. The underlayment layer comprises plurality of panels, each panel comprising a core with a top side and a bottom side. The top side has a plurality of top projections. The top projections form top side water drainage channels. The panels have edges, with the edges of one panel abutting the edges of adjacent panels, thereby forming a drainage path between adjacent panels. The panel edges have vertical support extensions that extend into the drainage paths between adjacent panels. The vertical support extensions have an upper surface for supporting an artificial turf assembly overlying the turf underlayment layer, and the panel edges having one or more complementary indentations corresponding to vertical support extensions of adjacent panels. When the panels move toward each other, thereby closing drainage paths between adjacent panels, the vertical support extensions are received in the corresponding indentations.

Disclosed are methods for making shock absorbing pads utilizing reclaimed artificial turf and reclaimed carpet materials. It is demonstrated that the artificial turf systems comprising inventive pads exhibit improved Head Impact Criteria (HIC) and cradle-to-cradle score.

An artificial turf simulating natural grass, including: a base fabric, artificial grass yarns tufting on the base fabric and a latex backing on the back of the base fabric. The artificial grass yarns have at least two different forms including a straight form and a curly form, and the straight artificial grass yarns have at least two different colors. Alternatively, the artificial grass yarns have at least a straight form and a curly form tuft on a base fabric and the straight artificial grass yarns are provided with at least two different colors, such that the appearance of the formed artificial turf has a better natural grass simulation effect, and combinations can be made according to specific functional requirements of the application of the artificial turf, thus improving applicability of the artificial turf.

An underlayment layer is configured to support an artificial turf assembly. The underlayment layer comprises plurality of panels, each panel comprising a core with a top side and a bottom side. The top side has a plurality of top projections. The top projections form top side water drainage channels. The panels have edges, with the edges of one panel abutting the edges of adjacent panels, thereby forming a drainage path between adjacent panels. The panel edges have vertical support extensions that extend into the drainage paths between adjacent panels. The vertical support extensions have an upper surface for supporting an artificial turf assembly overlying the turf underlayment layer, and the panel edges having one or more complementary indentations corresponding to vertical support extensions of adjacent panels. When the panels move toward each other, thereby closing drainage paths between adjacent panels, the vertical support extensions are received in the corresponding indentations.

An underlayment layer is configured to support an artificial turf assembly. The underlayment layer comprises plurality of panels, each panel comprising a core with a top side and a bottom side. The top side has a plurality of top projections. The top projections form top side water drainage channels. The panels have edges, with the edges of one panel abutting the edges of adjacent panels, thereby forming a drainage path between adjacent panels. The panel edges have vertical support extensions that extend into the drainage paths between adjacent panels. The vertical support extensions have an upper surface for supporting an artificial turf assembly overlying the turf underlayment layer, and the panel edges having one or more complementary indentations corresponding to vertical support extensions of adjacent panels. When the panels move toward each other, thereby closing drainage paths between adjacent panels, the vertical support extensions are received in the corresponding indentations.

The present invention comprises a method. The method comprises extruding a mixture comprising a plurality of pellets or granules of a first thermoplastic polymer having a first color or shade and a plurality of pellets or granules of a second thermoplastic polymer having a second color or shade. The mixture also comprises an amount of a compatibilizer such that the first thermoplastic polymer and the second thermoplastic polymer do not delaminate when extruded and wherein the second thermoplastic polymer is incompatible with the first thermoplastic polymer and wherein the first color or shade is different from the second color or shade. The present invention also comprises strands, monofilaments, fibers, filaments, yarns, sheets or films made by the foregoing method. The present invention further comprises an artificial turf having a face pile of strands, monofilaments, fibers, filaments or yarns made by the foregoing method.

An artificial turf system comprises a resilient layer, an artificial grass layer comprising a substrate and pile fibers upstanding from the substrate and an infill layer. The infill layer comprises smooth, hard granules having a mean size of between 1.8 mm and 10 mm disposed on the substrate and interspersed between the pile fibers. The smooth, hard granules provide improved characteristics in terms of foot release.