A self-cooling artificial turf system for water retention and evaporation is described. The system includes a synthetic surface comprising an elastic sub-layer having shock absorbing pads, or shock pads, configured to interlock to one another. Individual ones of the shock pads comprise a top surface and a moisture accumulation region defined by an edge having a height taller than the top surface. Synthetic fibers are positioned above the synthetic surface that are in fluid connection with the at least one moisture accumulation region such that the synthetic fibers are able to wick moisture from the at least one moisture accumulation region when the moisture is present. At least a portion of the synthetic fibers are hydrophilic such that the synthetic fibers wick the moisture as it is expelled from the at least one moisture accumulation region, thereby cooling at least the portion of the synthetic surface.

A self-cooling artificial turf system for water retention and evaporation is described. The system includes a synthetic surface comprising an elastic sub-layer having shock absorbing pads, or shock pads, configured to interlock to one another. Individual ones of the shock pads comprise a top surface and a moisture accumulation region defined by an edge having a height taller than the top surface. Synthetic fibers are positioned above the synthetic surface that are in fluid connection with the at least one moisture accumulation region such that the synthetic fibers are able to wick moisture from the at least one moisture accumulation region when the moisture is present. At least a portion of the synthetic fibers are hydrophilic such that the synthetic fibers wick the moisture as it is expelled from the at least one moisture accumulation region, thereby cooling at least the portion of the synthetic surface.

A support layer for supporting an artificial turf assembly. The support layer being formed of a polymeric foam, preferably having a density of between 20 and 70 grams per liter, such as a polyolefin foam; and having an upper side and a lower side, wherein in use the support layer has been placed with the lower side thereof on a base surface and supports, on the upper side thereof, the artificial turf assembly, the support layer including a plurality of through drainage holes extending from the upper side to the lower side for allowing liquid such as rain water to flow via the plurality of drainage holes from the upper side to the lower side, and also including a plurality of channels at the lower side for allowing liquid such as rain water to flow through the channels along the lower side, wherein each of said plurality of drainage holes debouches into one of the plurality of channels. The support layer is further included in an artificial turf system, that includes an artificial turf assembly with the support layer supported on a base surface such as a layer of sand, wherein the support layer forms, at the upper sides thereof, a closed support surface supporting the artificial turf assembly.

A support layer for supporting an artificial turf assembly. The support layer being formed of a polymeric foam, preferably having a density of between 20 and 70 grams per liter, such as a polyolefin foam; and having an upper side and a lower side, wherein in use the support layer has been placed with the lower side thereof on a base surface and supports, on the upper side thereof, the artificial turf assembly, the support layer including a plurality of through drainage holes extending from the upper side to the lower side for allowing liquid such as rain water to flow via the plurality of drainage holes from the upper side to the lower side, and also including a plurality of channels at the lower side for allowing liquid such as rain water to flow through the channels along the lower side, wherein each of said plurality of drainage holes debouches into one of the plurality of channels. The support layer is further included in an artificial turf system, that includes an artificial turf assembly with the support layer supported on a base surface such as a layer of sand, wherein the support layer forms, at the upper sides thereof, a closed support surface supporting the artificial turf assembly.

Various embodiments for a panel that may be combined with other similar panels to form a padding layer of an athletic field, or other surface, are disclosed. The panel for use in a padding layer of a panel system includes at least one water accumulation region positioned at or near a perimeter of the panel. The at least one water accumulation region is defined by a pyramidal surface that slopes downwards from a center of the panel to distal edges of the panel such that the center has a height relative to a ground surface greater than the distal edges of the panel, a plurality of projections projecting from the pyramidal surface, and a ridge projecting from the pyramidal surface, the ridge extending along a perimeter of the panel, wherein the ridge has a projection height sufficient to retain water at the perimeter of the panel.

Various embodiments for a panel that may be combined with other similar panels to form a padding layer of an athletic field, or other surface, are disclosed. The panel for use in a padding layer of a panel system includes at least one water accumulation region positioned at or near a perimeter of the panel. The at least one water accumulation region is defined by a pyramidal surface that slopes downwards from a center of the panel to distal edges of the panel such that the center has a height relative to a ground surface greater than the distal edges of the panel, a plurality of projections projecting from the pyramidal surface, and a ridge projecting from the pyramidal surface, the ridge extending along a perimeter of the panel, wherein the ridge has a projection height sufficient to retain water at the perimeter of the panel.

A modular planting material for natural turf in sports field and its manufacturing process, the material is consist of a far-infrared mineral substrate, a multi-biochar, and a polysaccharide polymer; wherein the far-infrared mineral substrate is composed of SiO2, ZnO, CaO, Al2O3, Fe2O3, K2O, MgO, TiO2, CeO2, La2O3, pulverized fuel ash 1, and raw carbon powder; the multi-biochar is composed of rice husk, oil millet husk, and oil millet stalk; the polysaccharide polymer is composed of polyuronic acid, sodium salt, and cellulose; The present invention let 75˜85% far-infrared mineral substrate, 10-20% multi-biochar, and 2˜5% polysaccharide polymer be mixed, stirred, dried, heated and pressed into shape, high temperature sterilized and molded, and cooled and pressed, then cut to form a natural turf modular planting material. Since the modular planting material has many pores, it has the feature of water retention, air permeability and promoting the growth of the beneficial bacteria and the plants.

This invention provides an artificial turf infill material including a microporous zeolite mineral having a selected gain size smaller than 5 mm and a porosity between 15% and 30%, where the microporous zeolite mineral has a grain size distribution as follows: 90% to 100% of the grains have a size in the range 0.4 mm to 5.0 mm.

A sports field comprises a base structure and a cover. The cover is at least partly permeable to fluid, especially water. The base structure comprises voids for containing fluid. The base structure forms a substantially continuous deck supporting the cover. The cover comprises or is formed by an artificial sports layer, such as artificial grass. At least a number of the voids are in fluid communication with each other. Wick elements are provided fluidly connecting at least a number of the voids with the cover for supplying fluid from the voids to the top layer.

A sports field comprises a base structure and a cover. The cover is at least partly permeable to fluid, especially water. The base structure comprises voids for containing fluid. The base structure forms a substantially continuous deck supporting the cover. The cover comprises or is formed by an artificial sports layer, such as artificial grass. At least a number of the voids are in fluid communication with each other. Wick elements are provided fluidly connecting at least a number of the voids with the cover for supplying fluid from the voids to the top layer.