ARTIFICIAL TURF AND PRODUCTION METHOD

Abstract

The invention provides for a method of manufacturing artificial turf (1000). The method comprising the steps of: creating (100) a polymer mixture (100, 400, 500), wherein the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system, wherein the polymer mixture comprises a first polymer (402), a second polymer (404), and a compatibiiizer (406), wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, wherein the first polymer forms polymer beads (408) surrounded by the compatibiiizer within the second polymer; extruding (102) the polymer mixture into a monofilament (606); quenching (104) the monofilament; reheating (106) the monofilament; stretching (108) the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into threadlike regions (800) and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber (1004); incorporating (110) the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf carpet (1002).

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing artificial turf (1000), the method comprising the steps of: creating (100) a polymer mixture (100, 400, 500), wherein the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system, wherein the polymer mixture comprises a first polymer (402), a second polymer (404), and a compatibilizer (406), wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, wherein the first polymer forms polymer beads (408) surrounded by the compatibilizer within the second polymer; extruding (102) the polymer mixture into a monofilament (606); quenching (104) the monofilament; reheating (106) the monofilament; stretching (108) the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into threadlike regions (800) and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber (1004); incorporating (110) the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing (1002).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer bead comprises crystalline portions and amorphous portions, wherein stretching the polymer beads into threadlike regions causes an increase in the size of the crystalline portions relative to the amorphous portions.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the creating of the polymer mixture comprises the steps of: forming (200) a first mixture by mixing the first polymer with the compatibilizer; heating (202) the first mixture; extruding (204) the first mixture; granulating (206) the extruded first mixture; mixing (208) the granulated first mixture with the second polymer; and heating (210) the granulated first mixture with the second polymer to form the polymer mixture.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the polymer mixture is at least a four phase system, wherein the polymer mixture comprises at least a third polymer (502), wherein the third polymer is immiscible with the second polymer, wherein the third polymer further forms the polymer beads surrounded by the compatibilizer within the second polymer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the creating of the polymer mixture comprises the steps of: forming (300) a first mixture by mixing the first polymer and the third polymer with the compatibilizer; heating (302) the first mixture; extruding (304) the first mixture; granulating (306) the extruded first mixture; mixing (308) the first mixture with the second polymer; and heating (310) the mixed first mixture with the second polymer to form the polymer mixture.

6. The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the third polymer is a polar polymer.

7. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third polymer is any one of the following: polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

8. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer mixture comprises 1 to 30 percent by weight the first polymer and the third polymer combined.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the polymer mixture comprises 1 to 20 percent by weight the first polymer and the third polymer combined.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the polymer mixture comprises 5 to 10 percent by weight the first polymer and the third polymer combined.

11. The method of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the polymer mixture comprises 1 to 30 percent by weight the first polymer.

12. The method of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the polymer mixture comprises 1 to 20 percent by weight the first polymer.

13. The method of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the polymer mixture comprises 5 to 10 percent by weight the first polymer.

14. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first polymer is a polar polymer.

15. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first polymer is any one of the following: polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

16. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second polymer is a non-polar polymer.

17. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second polymer is any one of the following: polyethylene, polypropylene, and a mixture thereof.

18. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the compatibilizer is any one of the following: a maleic acid grafted on polyethylene or polyamide; a maleic anhydride grafted on free radical initiated graft copolymer of polyethylene, SEBS, EVA, EPD, or polyproplene with an unsaturated acid or its anhydride such as maleic acid, glycidyl methacrylate, ricinoloxazoline maleinate; a graft copolymer of SEBS with glycidyl methacrylate, a graft copolymer of EVA with mercaptoacetic acid and maleic anhydride; a graft copolymer of EPDM with maleic anhydride; a graft copolymer of polypropylene with maleic anhydride; a polyolefin-graft-polyamidepolyethylene or polyamide; and a polyacrylic acid type compatibilizer.

19. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer mixture comprises 80 to 90 percent by weight the second polymer.

20. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer mixture further comprises any one of the following: a wax, a dulling agent, a UV stabilizer, a flame retardant, an anti-oxidant, a pigment, and combinations thereof.

21. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein creating the artificial turf fiber comprises forming the stretched monofilament into a yarn.

22. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein creating the artificial turf fiber comprises weaving, spinning, twisting, rewinding, and/or bundling the stretched monofilament into the artificial turf fiber.

23. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein incorporating the artificial turf fiber into the artificial turf backing comprises: tufting the artificial turf fiber into the artificial turf backing and binding the artificial turf fibers to the artificial turf backing.

24. The method of any one of claims 1 through 22, wherein incorporating the artificial turf fiber into the artificial turf backing comprises weaving the artificial turf fiber into the artificial turf backing.

25. A artificial turf manufactured according to the method of any one of the preceding claims.

26. An artificial turf (1000) comprising an artificial turf textile backing (1002) and artificial turf fiber (1004) incorporated into the artificial turf backing, wherein the artificial turf fiber comprises at least one monofilament, wherein each of the at least one monofilament comprises: a first polymer (402) in the form of threadlike regions (800); a second polymer (404), wherein the threadlike regions are embedded in the second polymer, wherein the first polymer is immiscible in the second polymer; a compatibilizer (406) surrounding each of the threadlike regions and separating the at least one first polymer from the second polymer.

27. The artificial turf of claim 26, wherein the threadlike regions have a diameter less than 50 micrometers.

28. The artificial turf of claim 26, wherein the threadlike regions have a diameter less than 10 micrometers.

29. The artificial turf of claim 26, wherein the threadlike regions have a diameter of between 1 and 3 micrometers.

30. The artificial turf of any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the artificial turf fiber extends a predetermined length (1008) beyond the artificial turf backing, and wherein threadlike regions have a length less than one half of the predetermined length.

31. The artificial turf of any one of claims 27 to 31, wherein the threadlike regions have a length less than 2 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] In the following embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail, by way of example only, making reference to the drawings in which:

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a flowchart which illustrates an example of a method of manufacturing artificial turf;

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart which illustrates one method of creating the polymer mixture;

[0061] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart which illustrates a further example of how to create a polymer mixture;

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a diagram which illustrates a cross-section of a polymer mixture;

[0063] FIG. 5 shows a further example of a polymer mixture;

[0064] FIG. 6 illustrates the extrusion of the polymer mixture into a monofilament;

[0065] FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of a small segment of the monofilament;

[0066] FIG. 8 illustrates the effect of stretching the monofilament;

[0067] FIG. 9 shows an electron microscope picture of a cross-section of a stretched monofilament; and

[0068] FIG. 10 shows an example of a cross-section of an example of artificial turf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] Like numbered elements in these figures are either equivalent elements or perform the same function. Elements which have been discussed previously will not necessarily be discussed in later figures if the function is equivalent.

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a flowchart which illustrates an example of a method of manufacturing artificial turf. First in step 100 a polymer mixture is created. The polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system. The polymer mixture comprises a first polymer. The polymer mixture further comprises a second polymer and a compatibilizer. The first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible. In other examples there may be additional polymers such as a third, fourth, or even fifth polymer that are also immiscible with the second polymer. There also may be additional compatibilizers which are used either in combination with the first polymer or the additional third, fourth, or fifth polymer. The first polymer forms polymer beads surrounded by the compatibilizer. The polymer beads may also be formed by additional polymers which are not miscible in the second polymer.

[0071] The polymer beads are surrounded by the compatibilizer and are within the second polymer or mixed into the second polymer. In the next step 102 the polymer mixture is extruded into a monofilament. Next in step 104 the monofilament is quenched or rapidly cooled down. Next in step 106 the monofilament is reheated. In step 108 the reheated monofilament is stretched to deform the polymer beads into thread-like regions and to form the monofilament into the artificial turf fiber. Additional steps may also be performed on the monofilament to form the artificial turf fiber. For instance the monofilament may be spun or woven into a yarn with desired properties. Next in step 110 the artificial turf fiber is incorporated into an artificial turf backing. Step 110 could for example be, but is not limited to, tufting or weaving the artificial turf fiber into the artificial turf backing. Then in step 112 the artificial turf fibers are bound to the artificial turf backing. For instance the artificial turf fibers may be glued or held in place by a coating or other material. Step 112 is an optional step. For example if the artificial turf fibers are woven into the artificial turf backing step 112 may not need to be performed.

[0072] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart which illustrates one method of creating the polymer mixture. In this example the polymer mixture is a three-phase system and comprises the first polymer, a second polymer and the compatibilizer. The polymer mixture may also comprise other things such as additives to color or provide flame or UV-resistance or improve the flowing properties of the polymer mixture. First in step 200 a first mixture is formed by mixing the first polymer with the compatibilizer. Additional additives may also be added during this step. Next in step 202 the first mixture is heated. Next in step 204 the first mixture is extruded. Then in step 206 the extruded first mixture is then granulated or chopped into small pieces. Next in step 208 the granulated first mixture is mixed with the second polymer. Additional additives may also be added to the polymer mixture at this time. Finally in step 210 the granulated first mixture is heated with the second polymer to form the polymer mixture. The heating and mixing may occur at the same time.

[0073] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart which illustrates a further example of how to create a polymer mixture 100. In this example the polymer mixture additionally comprises at least a third polymer. The third polymer is immiscible with the second polymer and the polymer mixture is at least a four-phase system. The third polymer further forms the polymer beads surrounded by the compatibilizer with the second polymer. First in step 300 a first mixture is formed by mixing the first polymer and the third polymer with the compatibilizer. Additional additives may be added to the first mixture at this point. Next in step 302 the first mixture is heated. The heating and the mixing of the first mixture may be done at the same time. Next in step 304 the first mixture is extruded. Next in step 306 the extruded first mixture is granulated or chopped into tiny pieces. Next in step 308 the first mixture is mixed with the second polymer. Additional additives may be added to the polymer mixture at this time. Then finally in step 310 the heated first mixture and the second polymer are heated to form the polymer mixture. The heating and the mixing may be done simultaneously.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a diagram which illustrates a cross-section of a polymer mixture 400. The polymer mixture 400 comprises a first polymer 402, a second polymer 404, and a compatibilizer 406. The first polymer 402 and the second polymer 404 are immiscible. The first polymer 402 is less abundant than the second polymer 404. The first polymer 402 is shown as being surrounded by compatibilizer 406 and being dispersed within the second polymer 404. The first polymer 402 surrounded by the compatibilizer 406 forms a number of polymer beads 408. The polymer beads 408 may be spherical or oval in shape or they may also be irregularly-shaped depending up on how well the polymer mixture is mixed and the temperature. The polymer mixture 400 is an example of a three-phase system. The three phases are the regions of the first polymer 402. The second phase region is the compatibilizer 406 and the third phase region is the second polymer 404. The compatibilizer 406 separates the first polymer 402 from the second polymer 406.

[0075] FIG. 5 shows a further example of a polymer mixture 500. The example shown in FIG. 5 is similar to that shown in FIG. 4 however, the polymer mixture 500 additionally comprises a third polymer 502. Some of the polymer beads 408 are now comprised of the third polymer 502. The polymer mixture 500 shown in FIG. 5 is a four-phase system. The four phases are made up of the first polymer 402, the second polymer 404, the third polymer 502, and the compatibilizer 406. The first polymer 402 and the third polymer 502 are not miscible with the second polymer 404. The compatibilizer 406 separates the first polymer 402 from the second polymer 404 and the third polymer 502 from the second polymer 404.

[0076] In this example the same compatibilizer 406 is used for both the first polymer 402 and the third polymer 502. In other examples a different compatibilizer 406 could be used for the first polymer 402 and the third polymer 502.

[0077] FIG. 6 illustrates the extrusion of the polymer mixture into a monofilament. Shown is an amount of polymer mixture 600. Within the polymer mixture 600 there is a large number of polymer beads 408. The polymer beads 408 may be made of one or more polymers that is not miscible with the second polymer 404 and is also separated from the second polymer 404 by a compatibilizer. A screw, piston or other device is used to force the polymer mixture 600 through a hole 604 in a plate 602. This causes the polymer mixture 600 to be extruded into a monofilament 606. The monofilament 606 is shown as containing polymer beads 408 also. The second polymer 404 and the polymer beads 408 are extruded together. In some examples the second polymer 404 will be less viscous than the polymer beads 408 and the polymer beads 408 will tend to concentrate in the center of the monofilament 606. This may lead to desirable properties for the final artificial turf fiber as this may lead to a concentration of the thread-like regions in the core region of the monofilament 606.

[0078] FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of a small segment of the monofilament 606. The monofilament is again shown as comprising the second polymer 404 with the polymer beads 408 mixed in. The polymer beads 408 are separated from the second polymer 404 by compatibilizer 406 which is not shown. To form the thread-like structures a section of the monofilament 606 is heated and then stretched along the length of the monofilament 606. This is illustrated by the arrows 700 which show the direction of the stretching.

[0079] FIG. 8 illustrates the effect of stretching the monofilament 606. In FIG. 8 an example of a cross-section of a stretched monofilament 606 is shown. The polymer beads 408 in FIG. 7 have been stretched into thread-like structures 800. The amount of deformation of the polymer beads 408 would be dependent upon how much the monofilament 606 has been stretched.

[0080] Examples may relate to the production of artificial turf which is also referred to as synthetic turf. In particular, the invention relates to the production of fibers that imitate grass. The fibers are composed of first and second polymers that are not miscible and differ in material characteristics as e.g. stiffness, density, polarity and a compatibilizer.

[0081] In a first step, a first polymer is mixed with the a compatibilizer. Color pigments, UV and thermal stabilizers, process aids and other substances that are as such known from the art can be added to the mixture. This may result in granular material which consist of a two phase system in which the first polymer is surrounded by the compatibilizer.

[0082] In a second step, a three-phase system is formed by adding the second polymer to the mixture whereby in this example the quantity of the second polymer is about 80-90 mass percent of the three-phase system, the quantities of the first polymer being 5% to 10% by mass and of the compatibilizer being 5% to 10% by mass. Using extrusion technology results in a mixture of droplets or of beads of the first polymer surrounded by the compatibilizer that is dispersed in the polymer matrix of the second polymer. In a practical implementation a so called master batch including granulate of the first polymer and the compatibilizer is formed. The master batch may also be referred to as a polymer mixture herein. The granulate mix is melted and a mixture of the first polymer and the compatibilizer is formed by extrusion. The resulting strands are crushed into granulate. The resultant granulate and granulate of the second polymer are then used in a second extrusion to produce the thick fiber which is then stretched into the final fiber.

[0083] The melt temperature used during extrusions is dependent upon the type of polymers and compatibilizer that is used. However the melt temperature is typically between 230 C. and 280 C.

[0084] A monofilament, which can also be referred to as a filament or fibrillated tape, is produced by feeding the mixture into an fiber producing extrusion line. The melt mixture is passing the extrusion tool, i.e., a spinneret plate or a wide slot nozzle, forming the melt flow into a filament or tape form, is quenched or cooled in a water spin bath, dried and stretched by passing rotating heated godets with different rotational speed and/or a heating oven.

[0085] The monofilament or type is then annealed online in a second step passing a further heating oven and/or set of heated godets.

[0086] By this procedure the beads or droplets of polymer 1, surrounded by the compatibilizer are stretched into longitudinal direction and form small fiber like, linear structures which stay however completely embedded into the polymer matrix of the second polymer.

[0087] FIG. 9 shows a microscopic picture of a cross-section of a stretched monofilament manufactured using an example of a method described above. The horizontal white streaks within the stretched monofilament 606 are the thread-like structures 800. Several of these thread-like structures are labeled 800. The thread-like structures 800 can be shown as forming small linear structures of the first polymer within the second polymer.

[0088] The resultant fiber may have multiple advantages, namely softness combined with durability and long term elasticity. In case of different stiffness and bending properties of the polymers the fiber can show a better resilience (this means that once a fiber is stepped down it will spring back) In case of a stiff first polymer, the small linear fiber structures built in the polymer matrix are providing a polymer reinforcement of the fiber.

[0089] Delimitation due to the composite formed by the first and second polymers is prevented due to the fact that the short fibers of the second polymer are embedded in the matrix given by the first polymer. Moreover, complicated coextrusion, requiring several extrusion heads to feed one complex spinneret tool is not needed.

[0090] The first polymer can be a polar substance, such as polyamide, whereas the second polymer can be a non-polar polymer, such as polyethylene. Alternatives for the first polymer are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) for the second polymer polypropylene. Finally a material consisting of 3 polymers is possible (e.g. PET, PA and PP, with PP creating the matrix and the other creating independent from each other fibrous linear structures. The compatibilizer can be a maleic anhydride grafted on polyethylene or polyamide.

[0091] FIG. 10 shows an example of a cross-section of an example of artificial turf 1000. The artificial turf 1000 comprises an artificial turf backing 1002. Artificial turf fiber 1004 has been tufted into the artificial turf backing 1002. On the bottom of the artificial turf backing 1002 is shown a coating 1006. The coating may serve to bind or secure the artificial turf fiber 1004 to the artificial turf backing 1002. The coating 1006 may be optional. For example the artificial turf fibers 1004 may be alternatively woven into the artificial turf backing 1002. Various types of glues, coatings or adhesives could be used for the coating 1006. The artificial turf fibers 1004 are shown as extending a distance 1008 above the artificial turf backing 1002. The distance 1008 is essentially the height of the pile of the artificial turf fibers 1004. The length of the thread-like regions within the artificial turf fibers 1004 is half of the distance 1008 or less.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0092] 100 create a polymer mixture [0093] 102 extrude the polymer mixture into a monofilament [0094] 104 quench the monofilament [0095] 106 reheat the monofilament [0096] 108 stretch the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into threadlike regions and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber [0097] 110 incorporate the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf carpet [0098] 112 optionally bind the artificial turf fibers to the artificial turf carpet [0099] 200 form a first mixture by mixing the first polymer with the compatibilizer [0100] 202 heat the first mixture [0101] 204 extrude the first mixture [0102] 206 granulate the extruded first mixture [0103] 208 mix the granulated first mixture with the second polymer [0104] 210 heat the granulated first mixture with the second polymer to form the polymer mixture [0105] 300 form a first mixture by mixing the first polymer and the third polymer with the compatibilizer [0106] 302 heat the first mixture [0107] 304 extrude the first mixture [0108] 306 granulate the extruded first mixture [0109] 308 mix the first mixture with the second polymer [0110] 310 heat the mixed first mixture with the second polymer to form the polymer mixture [0111] 400 polymer mixture [0112] 402 first polymer [0113] 404 second polymer [0114] 406 compatibilizer [0115] 408 polymer bead [0116] 500 polymer mixture [0117] 502 third polymer [0118] 600 polymer mixture [0119] 602 plate [0120] 604 hole [0121] 606 monofilament [0122] 606 stretched monofilament [0123] 700 direction of stretching [0124] 800 threadlike structures [0125] 1000 artificial turf [0126] 1002 artificial turf carpet [0127] 1004 artificial turf fiber (pile) [0128] 1006 coating [0129] 1008 height of pile