Artificial turf installation

Abstract

Artificial turf installation, comprising: a pile fabric having a backing and a multiplicity of generally upstanding pile elements; and an infill overlying said backing and being interspersed between said upstanding pile elements, said infill comprising a loose, particulate material consisting of particles coated with a coating material, wherein said coating material comprises a biodegradable polymer.

1 . An artificial turf installation, comprising:
 a pile fabric having a backing and a multiplicity of generally upstanding pile elements; and   an infill overlying said backing and being interspersed between said upstanding pile elements, said infill comprising a loose, particulate material consisting of particles coated with a coating material, wherein said coating material comprises a biodegradable polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The artificial turf installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said biodegradable polymer is chosen from the group of PLA copolymers, PLA, PLLA, PDLA, PHBH, PHBV, PBAT, PHA, PHB, PBS, cellulose, PCL and thermoplastic starch, and mixtures of said biodegradable polymers. 
     
     
         3 . The artificial turf installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said biodegradable polymer has a Melt Flow Index in a range of 2-50, measured according to ISO 1133. 
     
     
         4 . The artificial turf installation according to  claim 2 , wherein said biodegradable polymer comprises PLA. 
     
     
         5 . The artificial turf installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said loose particulate material consists of sand. 
     
     
         6 . The artificial turf installation according to  claim 5 , wherein the diameter of said loose particulate material is in a range of 0.05-3 mm in diameter, with a bulk density of the coated loose particulate material of 500-2500 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         7 . The artificial turf installation according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating material constitutes 1-10% by weight of the loose particulate material. 
     
     
         8 . The artificial turf installation according to  claim 1 , wherein a coupling agent is provided between the loose particulate material and the coating material, so as to improve the binding between the loose particulate material and the coating material. 
     
     
         9 . The artificial turf installation according to  claim 8 , wherein said coupling agent comprises a silane having a methacrylate group. 
     
     
         10 . The artificial turf installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said pile elements are made from polymers chosen from the group of PE, PP, SMA, PA, PLA, PDLA, PLLA, star shaped PLA polymer, and/or copolymers of PLA, PBS, PHBH, cellulose or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . An The artificial turf installation according to  claim 1 , wherein a pole height of said multiplicity of generally upstanding pile elements is in a range of 20-60 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The artificial turf installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said pile elements further comprise one or more additives, chosen from the group of antistatic additives, colorants, UV stabilizers, anti-microbial substances, fire retardants, cross linkers, coupling agents, melt flow enhancers and anti-slip agents. 
     
     
         13 . The artificial turf installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said infill further comprises sand not coated with a coating material. 
     
     
         14 . A loose, particulate material consisting of particles coated with a coating material, wherein said coating material comprises a biodegradable polymer. 
     
     
         15 . The loose, particulate material according to  claim 14 , wherein said loose, particulate material consists of sand and said biodegradable polymer is chosen from the group of PLA copolymers, PLA, PLLA, PDLA, PHBH, PHBV, PBAT, PHA, PHB, PBS, cellulose, PCL and thermoplastic starch, and mixtures of said biodegradable polymers. 
     
     
         16 . AThe loose, particulate material according to  claim 14 , wherein said loose particulate material comprises one or more elements chosen from the group of sand, sand coated with said biodegradable polymer and sand coated with non-biodegradable polymers like PE, PP, copolymers of PS/PE, ABS, TPU, TPE, PS, EPDM, SBR, PA, PU, PC, PET, PTFE, SBS, SEBS, PEF, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, isoprene rubber, neoprene rubber, polyacrylic rubber, silicones, latex or cellulose acetate. 
     
     
         17 . The loose, particulate material according to  claim 14 , wherein a coupling agent is provided between the loose particulate material and the coating material, so as to improve the binding between the loose particulate material and the coating material. 
     
     
         18 . The loose, particulate material to  claim 17 , wherein said coupling agent comprises a silane having a methacrylate group.