An artificial grass surface structure (1) for sports fields includes a mat (2) with filaments (4) which simulate a grass surface, and at least a filling layer (5) having a granular infill material (6) arranged between the filaments (4). The granular infill material for synthetic grass surfaces includes a plurality of granules (8) having a thermoplastic polymeric matrix and a load dispersed in the matrix. The load includes at least a cellulose-based vegetable component.

An artificial grass surface structure (1) for sports fields includes a mat (2) with filaments (4) which simulate a grass surface, and at least a filling layer (5) having a granular infill material (6) arranged between the filaments (4). The granular infill material for synthetic grass surfaces includes a plurality of granules (8) having a thermoplastic polymeric matrix and a load dispersed in the matrix. The load includes at least a cellulose-based vegetable component.

A method for seaming artificial turf at its edges is provided. In some embodiments, the method includes providing a tape having a lower surface resting on a support surface, an upper surface underlying the edges of the artificial turf, and a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive provided on the upper surface of the tape. After application of heat sufficient to soften the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, the layer of hot melt adhesive is bonded to the lower surface of the edges of the turf to the tape while the adhesive extends into valleys of the underside of the turf. Also provided is a heating cart for heating the adhesive and a method of using the heating cart to heat the adhesive.

A method for seaming artificial turf at its edges is provided. In some embodiments, the method includes providing a tape having a lower surface resting on a support surface, an upper surface underlying the edges of the artificial turf, and a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive provided on the upper surface of the tape. After application of heat sufficient to soften the hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, the layer of hot melt adhesive is bonded to the lower surface of the edges of the turf to the tape while the adhesive extends into valleys of the underside of the turf. Also provided is a heating cart for heating the adhesive and a method of using the heating cart to heat the adhesive.

An artificial turf filament comprising an ethylene-based polymer, wherein the ethylene-based polymer comprises greater than 50 wt. % of the units derived from ethylene and less than 30 wt. % of the units derived from one or more alpha-olefin co monomers.

An artificial turf filament comprising an ethylene-based polymer, wherein the ethylene-based polymer comprises greater than 50 wt. % of the units derived from ethylene and less than 30 wt. % of the units derived from one or more alpha-olefin co monomers.

A tufted geotextile includes a backing sheet tufted to resemble grass with polymeric yarns that when tufted form loops or bridges on a back side and tufts that extend as grass-like blades from an upper surface. Each line of tuft blades is tufted with a repeating stitching pattern generally of a weft portion along a tuft line first axis and warp portions disposed in a first direction at an angle to the first weft portion. The tufts define interstices that define cells that receive and trap infill for resisting displacement and movement of the infill under loading such as hydraulic flow or granular flow due to wind, seismic, vibrations, expansion and contraction loading, and the like. Each line of tuft blades is sewn along an alternating, interconnected “C-shaped” stitching pattern or square wave stitching pattern to define diverting tufts to restrict infill displacement and water flow.

A tufted geotextile includes a backing sheet tufted to resemble grass with polymeric yarns that when tufted form loops or bridges on a back side and tufts that extend as grass-like blades from an upper surface. Each line of tuft blades is tufted with a repeating stitching pattern generally of a weft portion along a tuft line first axis and warp portions disposed in a first direction at an angle to the first weft portion. The tufts define interstices that define cells that receive and trap infill for resisting displacement and movement of the infill under loading such as hydraulic flow or granular flow due to wind, seismic, vibrations, expansion and contraction loading, and the like. Each line of tuft blades is sewn along an alternating, interconnected “C-shaped” stitching pattern or square wave stitching pattern to define diverting tufts to restrict infill displacement and water flow.

Particulate infill from a worn down infilled artificial turf, particularly a sand/rubber mixture which includes crumb rubber from vehicle tires, is extracted from a prior field and then thereafter incorporated into the top surface of the compacted base at the same site, thereby to assure better drainage conditions in the compacted base for the subsequently installed field. The extracted and incorporated infill helps to maintain open drainage channels throughout the top of the compacted base, particularly in areas where limestone is prevalent. Otherwise, the limestone “fines” are susceptible to compacting and creating a cement-like crust at the top of the base. An existing infill extractor/collector device is modified to operate in a second mode, so that instead of merely performing the conventional bagging of the already-used infill, the already-used infill is laterally diverted back on to the base at the same site, and thereafter, distributed and tilled into the base. By incorporating the extracted infill into the base of the new field, the need to bag, remove, and dispose of the used infill is eliminated, along with the time and costs associated therewith, while at the same time improving the drainage of the new field. Two structures for diverting the collected infill are disclosed.

Particulate infill from a worn down infilled artificial turf, particularly a sand/rubber mixture which includes crumb rubber from vehicle tires, is extracted from a prior field and then thereafter incorporated into the top surface of the compacted base at the same site, thereby to assure better drainage conditions in the compacted base for the subsequently installed field. The extracted and incorporated infill helps to maintain open drainage channels throughout the top of the compacted base, particularly in areas where limestone is prevalent. Otherwise, the limestone “fines” are susceptible to compacting and creating a cement-like crust at the top of the base. An existing infill extractor/collector device is modified to operate in a second mode, so that instead of merely performing the conventional bagging of the already-used infill, the already-used infill is laterally diverted back on to the base at the same site, and thereafter, distributed and tilled into the base. By incorporating the extracted infill into the base of the new field, the need to bag, remove, and dispose of the used infill is eliminated, along with the time and costs associated therewith, while at the same time improving the drainage of the new field. Two structures for diverting the collected infill are disclosed.