Artificial turf filaments, and articles made therefrom

Abstract

An artificial turf filament comprising a polyolefin, a polyamide, a polyester, or a combination thereof, wherein the filament has a surface area, with at least a portion of the surface area being halogenated to form a halogenated surface

We claim: 
     
         1 . An artificial turf filament comprising a polyolefin, a polyamide, a polyester, or a combination thereof, wherein the filament has a surface area, with at least a portion of the surface area being halogenated to form a halogenated surface. 
     
     
         2 . The artificial turf filament of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the surface area is fluorinated to form a fluorinated surface. 
     
     
         3 . The artificial turf filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament comprises a polyolefin and the polyolefin comprises at least one of polyethylene or polypropylene. 
     
     
         4 . The artificial turf filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament comprises polyethylene and the polyethylene has a density of 0.910-0.940 g/cm 3  and a melt index of 0.5-5 g/10 min. 
     
     
         5 . The artificial turf filament of  claim 1 , wherein the halogenated surface modifies the filament to provide at least one of the following properties:
 increased adhesion to a polyurethane substrate,   improved hydrophilicity,   an observed fiber elongation at break that is less than 10% different, or   an observed fiber force at break that is less than 5% different,   when compared to a non-halogenated filament.   
     
     
         6 . The artificial turf filament of  claim 1 , wherein the artificial turf filament has improved hydrophilicity as measured by a water contact angle of less than 80 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing the artificial turf filament of  claim 1 , the method comprising exposing the at least a portion of the surface area of the filament to a composition containing at least 5 wt. % of a halogen to form the halogenated surface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the halogen is fluorine. 
     
     
         9 . An artificial turf field comprising:
 a primary backing having a top side and a bottom side; and   at least one artificial turf filament according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the at least one artificial turf filament is affixed to the primary backing such that the at least one artificial turf filament provides a tufted face extending outwardly from the top side of the primary backing. 
   
     
     
         10 . The artificial turf field of  claim 9 , wherein the artificial turf field further comprises a secondary backing bonded to at least a portion of the bottom side of the primary backing such that the at least one artificial turf filament is affixed in place to the bottom side of the primary backing. 
     
     
         11 . The artificial turf field of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary backing comprises polyurethane or styrene-butadiene latex. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing artificial turf field, the method comprising:
 providing at least one artificial turf filament according to  claim 1 ; and   affixing the at least one artificial turf filament to a primary backing such that that at least one artificial turf filament provides a tufted face extending outwardly from a top side of the primary backing.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises bonding a secondary backing to at least a portion of the bottom side of the primary backing such that the at least one artificial turf filament is affixed in place to the bottom side of the primary backing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the secondary backing comprises polyurethane or styrene-butadiene latex. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the halogenated or fluorinated surface of the at least one artificial turf filament is formed prior to affixing the at least one artificial turf filament to the primary backing.