EP2087066A1 - Sports grounds with a synthetic turf - Google Patents

Sports grounds with a synthetic turf

Info

Publication number
EP2087066A1
EP2087066A1 EP07826125A EP07826125A EP2087066A1 EP 2087066 A1 EP2087066 A1 EP 2087066A1 EP 07826125 A EP07826125 A EP 07826125A EP 07826125 A EP07826125 A EP 07826125A EP 2087066 A1 EP2087066 A1 EP 2087066A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
synthetic
layer
filling material
natural
natural organic
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07826125A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Emanuele Capitolo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tecneco Srl
Tecneco SpA
Original Assignee
Tecneco Srl
Tecneco SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tecneco Srl, Tecneco SpA filed Critical Tecneco Srl
Publication of EP2087066A1 publication Critical patent/EP2087066A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K17/00—Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials
    • C09K17/14—Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials containing organic compounds only
    • C09K17/16—Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials containing organic compounds only applied in a physical form other than a solution or a grout, e.g. as platelets or granules
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01C—CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR
    • E01C13/00—Pavings or foundations specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds; Drainage, irrigation or heating of sports grounds
    • E01C13/08—Surfaces simulating grass ; Grass-grown sports grounds

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a filling material for synthetic grass sports grounds and to the associated sports grounds comprising said filling material.
  • Synthetic fibre turfs used as surfacing for sports grounds for example, for golf courses, tennis courts, hockey or football pitches are known. These usually comprise synthetic fibres capable of simulating the fibres of natural grass and made for example from synthetic materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide. The synthetic fibres are attached to a substrate conventionally made from polypropylene fabric, optionally combined with geotextiles or reinforcing meshes.
  • the reverse of the substrate namely the opposite side to which the fibres are attached, is then spread with synthetic rubber latex, polyurethane, PVC or another material to anchor the fibres permanently to the substrate, such that said fibres assume an overall V-shape and a final length suitable for simulating a natural grass surface, hi order to hold the fibres in a substantially upright position, a filling material is dispersed between the fibres.
  • Conventional filling materials consist of a mass of plastics granules, which is generally laid in a layer over a compact layer of sand. Both of the above-stated layers are dispersed between the synthetic fibres attached to the support with the aim of also preventing the fibres from being completely folded over during use of the turf.
  • the filling materials are usually composed of a mass of granules of UV-stabilized thermoplastic or vulcanised synthetic material derived from virgin compounds and/or from recycling materials which are no longer in use such as tyres (SBR), moulding industry processing waste from the production of shoe soles, gaskets, medicine stoppers and the like (SBR, EPDM, etc.).
  • SBR tyres
  • SBR moulding industry processing waste from the production of shoe soles, gaskets, medicine stoppers and the like
  • the mass of granular material constituting the filling material has the function of imparting greater elasticity to the synthetic grass sports grounds, so enhancing the bounce of the ball and avoiding the injuries which users would suffer if the fibres were filled solely by the compact layer of sand.
  • the filling material must exhibit some essential characteristics, including not being subject to variation due to atmospheric agents. In particular, it must be non-hygroscopic and frostproof, even without the addition of additives such as salt, which are highly polluting.
  • the sand, filler material and synthetic fibres must be separated.
  • this separation operation is costly and complex when the filling material is a plastics material which is no longer reusable and is of elevated specific weight.
  • plastics materials most commonly used as filling materials may contain harmful substances, which means that such materials may constitute a hazard both to human health and to the environment.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a filling material for synthetic grass sports grounds which allows the above-stated problems to be overcome straightforwardly and economically and which in particular makes it possible to produce sports grounds which, at the time of disposal, do not cause environmental problems and which do not in general constitute a threat to human health.
  • said object is achieved by means of a filling material consisting of a mass of particulate material comprising granules, each granule consisting of a core of natural organic material, in particular cork, coated with a coating layer of natural or synthetic resin.
  • the filling material of the invention will be designated as natural organic filling material.
  • the core coating layer may be composed of any single-component or two-component natural and/or synthetic resin.
  • a natural resin suitable for use in the present invention which may be mentioned by way of example is natural rubber; synthetic resins which may be mentioned are polyurethane resins and silicone resins. Polyurethane resin is highly preferred as a coating material for the cork. Whilst
  • the natural organic filler material of the present invention is produced as follows. First of all, the natural organic starting material, preferably cork, is crushed or ground to obtain granules of variable shape and size but having a particle size within the range from 0.1-10 mm. The granules are then placed in a vessel equipped with a dispenser and mixer (which may be automatic or manual) and are sprayed with the coating resin at ambient temperature. The quantity of resin used varies between 0.1 and 90% by weight relative to the weight of the material to be treated. Once a homogeneous mixture is obtained, a catalyst/accelerator is added which ensures that crosslinking proceeds sufficiently rapidly. The type and quantity of catalyst/accelerator varies depending on the resin used and selection thereof is within the ability of a person skilled in the art.
  • the resultant coating layer formed on the core imparts some advantageous characteristics to the material.
  • the granules become waterproof (thanks to saturation of the cork pores), rotproof and increase their wear resistance and density (increase of approx. 15-35%), without losing their original elasticity.
  • the invention furthermore relates to a synthetic turf sports ground comprising the above- described natural organic filler material.
  • a synthetic turf sports ground falling within the scope of the invention is shown by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawing, in which (1) denotes the overall synthetic turf sports ground.
  • the synthetic turf sports ground (1) comprises a plurality of synthetic fibres capable of simulating the fibres of natural grass denoted overall as (2), each synthetic fibre being attached to a support (3).
  • the synthetic fibres are held in substantially upright position by means of a filling layer dispersed between the synthetic fibres (2), in which the filling layer comprises natural organic filling material according to the invention.
  • the filling layer is composed solely of the natural organic filling material of the invention.
  • the filling layer comprises a layer of natural organic filling material (6) according to the invention and a layer of sand (5).
  • the layer of sand (5) is located between the support (3) and the layer of natural organic filling material (6).
  • the synthetic fibres (2) are of a length capable of simulating the fibres of natural grass, preferably a length of 5-70 mm, and have a substantially V-shaped configuration perpendicular to the support (3). They are made, for example, from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide or polyester.
  • the percentage by weight of the natural organic filling material (6) relative to the total weight of the filling layer may vary between 5% and 100%.
  • the sports ground according to the present invention advantageously comprises a natural organic filling material, such as cork, which does not exhibit problems of environmental compatibility or disposal. Said material is furthermore available at low cost.
  • coating the cork with a resin as described above makes it possible to obtain a material which is fireproof, non-hygroscopic (and consequently frostproof) and rotproof, without losing the elasticity of the original material, which promotes the elasticity of the corresponding sports ground and thus the bounce and spin of the ball in play. Finally, such features reduce the probability of physical injury to the users of the sports ground.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Road Paving Structures (AREA)
  • Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)

Abstract

The invention describes a natural organic filling material for synthetic turf sports grounds consisting of a mass of particulate material comprising granules, each granule consisting of a core of a natural organic material coated with a coating layer of synthetic or natural resin. A corresponding synthetic grass sports playing surface comprising a plurality of synthetic fibres capable of simulating the fibres of natural grass (2), each synthetic fibre being attached to a support (3) and held in substantially upright position by means of a layer of filling material dispersed between the synthetic fibres (2) comprising the natural organic filling material of the invention (6) and optionally a layer of sand (5) located between the support (3) and the layer of natural organic filling material (6), is also described.

Description

Sports grounds with a synthetic turf
The present invention relates to a filling material for synthetic grass sports grounds and to the associated sports grounds comprising said filling material.
Synthetic fibre turfs used as surfacing for sports grounds, for example, for golf courses, tennis courts, hockey or football pitches are known. These usually comprise synthetic fibres capable of simulating the fibres of natural grass and made for example from synthetic materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide. The synthetic fibres are attached to a substrate conventionally made from polypropylene fabric, optionally combined with geotextiles or reinforcing meshes. The reverse of the substrate, namely the opposite side to which the fibres are attached, is then spread with synthetic rubber latex, polyurethane, PVC or another material to anchor the fibres permanently to the substrate, such that said fibres assume an overall V-shape and a final length suitable for simulating a natural grass surface, hi order to hold the fibres in a substantially upright position, a filling material is dispersed between the fibres.
Conventional filling materials consist of a mass of plastics granules, which is generally laid in a layer over a compact layer of sand. Both of the above-stated layers are dispersed between the synthetic fibres attached to the support with the aim of also preventing the fibres from being completely folded over during use of the turf.
The filling materials are usually composed of a mass of granules of UV-stabilized thermoplastic or vulcanised synthetic material derived from virgin compounds and/or from recycling materials which are no longer in use such as tyres (SBR), moulding industry processing waste from the production of shoe soles, gaskets, medicine stoppers and the like (SBR, EPDM, etc.).
The mass of granular material constituting the filling material has the function of imparting greater elasticity to the synthetic grass sports grounds, so enhancing the bounce of the ball and avoiding the injuries which users would suffer if the fibres were filled solely by the compact layer of sand. W
The filling material must exhibit some essential characteristics, including not being subject to variation due to atmospheric agents. In particular, it must be non-hygroscopic and frostproof, even without the addition of additives such as salt, which are highly polluting.
Furthermore, when it becomes necessary to replace the turf, the sand, filler material and synthetic fibres must be separated. However, this separation operation is costly and complex when the filling material is a plastics material which is no longer reusable and is of elevated specific weight.
Furthermore, the plastics materials most commonly used as filling materials, in particular SBR rubber, may contain harmful substances, which means that such materials may constitute a hazard both to human health and to the environment.
The object of the present invention is to provide a filling material for synthetic grass sports grounds which allows the above-stated problems to be overcome straightforwardly and economically and which in particular makes it possible to produce sports grounds which, at the time of disposal, do not cause environmental problems and which do not in general constitute a threat to human health.
According to the present invention, said object is achieved by means of a filling material consisting of a mass of particulate material comprising granules, each granule consisting of a core of natural organic material, in particular cork, coated with a coating layer of natural or synthetic resin.
In the remainder of the description, the filling material of the invention will be designated as natural organic filling material.
The core coating layer may be composed of any single-component or two-component natural and/or synthetic resin. A natural resin suitable for use in the present invention which may be mentioned by way of example is natural rubber; synthetic resins which may be mentioned are polyurethane resins and silicone resins. Polyurethane resin is highly preferred as a coating material for the cork. W „
The natural organic filler material of the present invention is produced as follows. First of all, the natural organic starting material, preferably cork, is crushed or ground to obtain granules of variable shape and size but having a particle size within the range from 0.1-10 mm. The granules are then placed in a vessel equipped with a dispenser and mixer (which may be automatic or manual) and are sprayed with the coating resin at ambient temperature. The quantity of resin used varies between 0.1 and 90% by weight relative to the weight of the material to be treated. Once a homogeneous mixture is obtained, a catalyst/accelerator is added which ensures that crosslinking proceeds sufficiently rapidly. The type and quantity of catalyst/accelerator varies depending on the resin used and selection thereof is within the ability of a person skilled in the art.
The resultant coating layer formed on the core imparts some advantageous characteristics to the material. The granules become waterproof (thanks to saturation of the cork pores), rotproof and increase their wear resistance and density (increase of approx. 15-35%), without losing their original elasticity.
The invention furthermore relates to a synthetic turf sports ground comprising the above- described natural organic filler material.
A synthetic turf sports ground falling within the scope of the invention is shown by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawing, in which (1) denotes the overall synthetic turf sports ground.
The synthetic turf sports ground (1) comprises a plurality of synthetic fibres capable of simulating the fibres of natural grass denoted overall as (2), each synthetic fibre being attached to a support (3). The synthetic fibres are held in substantially upright position by means of a filling layer dispersed between the synthetic fibres (2), in which the filling layer comprises natural organic filling material according to the invention.
In one embodiment not shown in the figure, the filling layer is composed solely of the natural organic filling material of the invention. In another embodiment, shown in the figure, the filling layer comprises a layer of natural organic filling material (6) according to the invention and a layer of sand (5). In this embodiment, the layer of sand (5) is located between the support (3) and the layer of natural organic filling material (6).
The synthetic fibres (2) are of a length capable of simulating the fibres of natural grass, preferably a length of 5-70 mm, and have a substantially V-shaped configuration perpendicular to the support (3). They are made, for example, from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide or polyester.
The percentage by weight of the natural organic filling material (6) relative to the total weight of the filling layer may vary between 5% and 100%.
The sports ground according to the present invention advantageously comprises a natural organic filling material, such as cork, which does not exhibit problems of environmental compatibility or disposal. Said material is furthermore available at low cost. Finally, coating the cork with a resin as described above makes it possible to obtain a material which is fireproof, non-hygroscopic (and consequently frostproof) and rotproof, without losing the elasticity of the original material, which promotes the elasticity of the corresponding sports ground and thus the bounce and spin of the ball in play. Finally, such features reduce the probability of physical injury to the users of the sports ground.
It is apparent that, modifications and variants falling within the ability of a person skilled in the art may be made to the natural organic filling material of the invention and to the corresponding sports grounds and that such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Natural organic filling material for synthetic turf sports grounds consisting of a mass of particulate material comprising granules, each granule consisting of a core of a natural organic material coated with a coating layer of synthetic or natural resin.
2. Filling material according to Claim 1, in which the natural organic material is cork.
3. Filling material according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the coating layer is made of a material selected from natural resins and synthetic resins, in particular polyurethane resins and silicone resins.
4. Filling material according to Claim 3, in which the coating layer consists of polyurethane resin.
5. Synthetic turf sports ground (1) comprising a plurality of synthetic fibres (2) capable of simulating the fibres of natural grass, each synthetic fibre being attached to a support (3) and held in substantially upright position by means of a filling layer dispersed between the synthetic fibres (2), the filling layer comprising a natural organic filling material according to any of Claims 1 to 4.
6. Synthetic turf sports ground according to Claim 5, in which the filling layer comprises a layer of natural organic filling material (6) according to any of Claims 1 to 4 and a layer of sand (5), the layer of sand (5) being located between the support (3) and the layer of filling material (6).
7. Synthetic turf sports ground according to Claim 5 or 6, in which the percentage by weight of natural organic filling material (6) relative to the total weight of the filling layer is between 5% and 100%.
8. Synthetic turf sports ground according to any of Claims 5 to 7, in which the synthetic fibres (2) are made of a material selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides and polyester.
EP07826125A 2006-10-30 2007-08-24 Sports grounds with a synthetic turf Withdrawn EP2087066A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO20060775 ITTO20060775A1 (en) 2006-10-30 2006-10-30 SPORTS PLAYING SURFACES WITH SYNTHETIC HERBS
PCT/IB2007/053396 WO2008053389A1 (en) 2006-10-30 2007-08-24 Sports grounds with a synthetic turf

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2087066A1 true EP2087066A1 (en) 2009-08-12

Family

ID=39167451

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07826125A Withdrawn EP2087066A1 (en) 2006-10-30 2007-08-24 Sports grounds with a synthetic turf

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2087066A1 (en)
IT (1) ITTO20060775A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2008053389A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT202100021329A1 (en) 2021-08-05 2023-02-05 Adalberto Principi PROCESS FOR THE CREATION OF FILLER MATERIAL FOR SYNTHETIC TURF, RELATIVE STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITMI20051403A1 (en) * 2005-07-21 2007-01-22 Italgreen S P A STRUCTURE OF ARTIFICIAL HERBAL MANTO AND RELATIVE METHOD OF REALIZATION
DE102009000179A1 (en) * 2009-01-13 2010-07-15 Evonik Degussa Gmbh Quick test to determine the influence of irradiation on the abrasion of granules
CN102964092B (en) * 2012-10-23 2016-02-17 亿利沙材料科技有限责任公司 For plantation sand and the methods for making and using same thereof in desert
CN103952963B (en) * 2014-05-07 2016-06-08 江苏共创人造草坪有限公司 A kind of fire retardant man-made lawn and preparation method thereof
ITUA20163186A1 (en) * 2016-05-05 2017-11-05 Polygreen S R L FILLED MATERIAL FOR ARTIFICIAL HERBAL MANTI, ARTIFICIAL GRASS WEIGHT STRUCTURE AND RECYCLING METHOD
EP3604676A1 (en) * 2018-07-30 2020-02-05 Polytex Sportbeläge Produktions-GmbH Artificial turf infill with pu-coated walnut shell granulate
EP3604677A1 (en) * 2018-07-30 2020-02-05 Polytex Sportbeläge Produktions-GmbH Artificial turf infill with pu-coated corn cob granulate
EP4242376A3 (en) 2020-02-19 2024-01-24 Tarkett Sports Canada Inc. Artificial turf having olive pit particles
IT202100000038A1 (en) 2021-01-04 2022-07-04 Polygreen S R L PRODUCTION PROCESS OF A GRANULAR INFILL MATERIAL AND RELATED GRANULAR INFILL MATERIAL
IT202200013222A1 (en) 2022-06-22 2023-12-22 Polygreen S R L FILLING GRANULES, SYNTHETIC GRASS SURFACE COMPRISING SAID FILLING GRANULES AND RELATED PRODUCTION PROCESS

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4337283A (en) * 1980-09-11 1982-06-29 Haas Jr Frederick T Synthetic turf playing surface with resilient top-dressing
US4637942A (en) * 1985-09-23 1987-01-20 Tecsyn Canada Limited Synthetic grass playing field surface
WO1989007635A1 (en) * 1988-02-09 1989-08-24 Martin Collins Enterprises Limited Exercise areas
GB9109536D0 (en) * 1991-05-02 1991-06-26 Bowers Frank Polymeric compositions
CA2247484C (en) * 1998-09-21 2001-07-24 Jean Prevost Process of laying synthetic grass

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2008053389A1 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT202100021329A1 (en) 2021-08-05 2023-02-05 Adalberto Principi PROCESS FOR THE CREATION OF FILLER MATERIAL FOR SYNTHETIC TURF, RELATIVE STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION
EP4130382A1 (en) 2021-08-05 2023-02-08 Adalberto Principi Process for the manufacture of filler material for synthetic turf, filler material for synthetic turf and coating substance

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITTO20060775A1 (en) 2008-04-30
WO2008053389A1 (en) 2008-05-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2087066A1 (en) Sports grounds with a synthetic turf
US7060334B2 (en) Infill material for synthetic-grass structures, corresponding synthetic-grass structure and process of preparation
US4337283A (en) Synthetic turf playing surface with resilient top-dressing
US6299959B1 (en) Filled synthetic grass
US6527889B1 (en) Method for making stabilized artificial turf
ES2708132T3 (en) Artificial turf comprising an agglomerate filler
HU227351B1 (en) Synthetic grass
WO1999005218A2 (en) Sport and recreational surface
CN102549217A (en) Artificial turf infill and artificial turf including the same
WO2009084150A1 (en) Particulate substance for filling artificial turf and artificial turf structure filled with the particulate substance for filling artificial turf
JP5416921B2 (en) Method for forming elastic pavement
JPH07158007A (en) Artificial lawn made athletic ground
JPS587005A (en) Construction of artificial turf athletic field
JP3874901B2 (en) Artificial grass
US8889777B2 (en) Engineered earthen recreational and sport surface
JP4022441B2 (en) Artificial grass sports field
CN211006227U (en) Outdoor special artificial turf protection ground structure
JPS646862Y2 (en)
JPH026084Y2 (en)
RU47013U1 (en) COATING FOR CHILDREN, SPORTS FIELDS AND AQUAPARK
NL1032878C2 (en) Substructure for an artificial grass field.
JPS6131046Y2 (en)
JPS646863Y2 (en)
JPS6335044Y2 (en)
JPS5948505A (en) Athletic field made of artificial turf

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20090525

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20100630

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20101111