Artificial turf filaments, and articles made therefrom

Abstract

An artificial turf filament comprising one or more ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers having a density of from 0.900 to 0.955 g/cc and a melt index, I2, as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 (at 190° C. and 2.16 kg), of from 0.1 g/10 min to 20 g/10 min; an ethoxylated alcohol having the formula, R 1 (OCH 2 CH 2 ) x OH, where x is an integer from 2 to 10 and R1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl of 20 to 50 carbon atoms; and a chemical foaming agent.

1 . An artificial turf filament comprising:
 one or more ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers having a density of from 0.900 to 0.955 g/cc and a melt index, I2, as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 (at 190° C. and 2.16 kg), of from 0.1 g/10 min to 20 g/10 min;   an ethoxylated alcohol having the formula, R 1 (OCH 2 CH 2 ) x OH, where x is an integer from 2 to 10 and R1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl of 20 to 50 carbon atoms; and   a chemical foaming agent.   
     
     
         2 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament comprises at least 75 wt. % of the one or more ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers. 
     
     
         3 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament comprises from 0.05 wt. % to 10 wt. % of the ethoxylated alcohol. 
     
     
         4 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the ethoxylated alcohol is an ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol. 
     
     
         5 . The filament of  claim 1 , wherein the filament comprises from 0.05 wt. % to 10 wt. % of the foaming agent. 
     
     
         6 . An artificial turf filament comprising two or more layers, wherein at least one layer comprises:
 one or more ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers having a density of from 0.900 to 0.955 g/cc and a melt index from 0.1 g/10 min to 20 g/10 min;   an ethoxylated alcohol having the formula, R1(OCH2CH2)xOH, where x is an integer from 2 to 10 and R1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl of 20 to 50 carbon atoms; and a chemical foaming agent.   
     
     
         7 . The filament of  claim 6 , wherein the filament comprises at least 75 wt. % of the one or more ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers. 
     
     
         8 . The filament of  claim 6 , wherein the filament comprises from 0.05 wt. % to 10 wt. % of the ethoxylated alcohol. 
     
     
         9 . The filament of  claim 6 , wherein the ethoxylated alcohol is an ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol. 
     
     
         10 . The filament of  claim 6 , wherein the filament comprises from 0.05 wt. % to 10 wt. % of the foaming agent. 
     
     
         11 . An artificial turf comprising:
 a primary backing having a top side and a bottom side; and   at least one artificial turf filament according to  claim 1  or  6 ;   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.   
     
     
         12 . The artificial turf of  claim 11 , 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.