Improvements in or relating to artifical surfaces

Abstract

An artificial surface 10 , such as an artificial grass and/or sports surface 10 , comprises a plurality of blades 5 , and comprises a material or yarn 5 comprising a polyolefin or polymer material and at least one additive comprising a siloxane additive. Each of the blades 5 may be substantially straight. The artificial surface 10 may have a pile height of around 20 mm to 75 mm and/or a tuft gauge of at least ⅜ inch.

1 . An artificial surface comprising a plurality of blades, wherein each of the blades comprises a material or yarn comprising a synthetic turf or grass yarn comprising a polyolefin or polymer material and at least one additive comprising a siloxane additive,
 wherein the artificial surface has:   a pile height of around 20 mm to 75 mm; and/or   a tuft gauge of at least ⅜ inch.   
     
     
         2 . An artificial surface comprising a plurality of blades, wherein each of the blades is substantially straight and comprises a material or yarn comprising a polyolefin or polymer material and at least one additive comprising a siloxane additive. 
     
     
         3 . An artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each blade comprises a filament which:
 is substantially straight or linear;   is a monofilament or a slit film;   has a propeller or diamond shaped cross-section; and/or   has a cross-sectional width of around 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, optionally 1.2 mm to 1.5 mm, and a cross-sectional breadth of around 200 μm to 450 μm, optionally 300 μm to 380 μm.   
     
     
         4 . An artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin or polymer comprises:
 polyethylene, such as linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE); and/or   a metallocene catalysed polyolefin.   
     
     
         5 . An artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one additive comprises one or more compound selected from Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, Hexamethylcyclotrisilaxane, Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, and Hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDS). 
     
     
         6 . An artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polyolefin or polymer material comprises 80% to 90% of the material or yarn. 
     
     
         7 . An artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one additive comprises 0.1% to 10% of the material or yarn, optionally 0.5% to 5%, or around 3% of the material or yarn. 
     
     
         8 . An artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one additive comprises or forms an outer layer on the material or yarn or on the polyolefin or polymer material. 
     
     
         9 . An artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the artificial surface has a tuft gauge of at least ½ inch, optionally at least ⅝ inch, optionally at least ¾ inch. 
     
     
         10 . An artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the artificial surface has a pile height of around 30 mm to 65 mm. 
     
     
         11 . An artificial surface as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the artificial surface is provided with an infill material. 
     
     
         12 . An artificial surface according to  claim 1 , wherein a sliding coefficient of friction of the artificial surface is between 0.7 and 1.0, optionally around 0.94. 
     
     
         13 . An artificial surface according to  claim 1 , wherein the artificial surface is a contact sports playing surface. 
     
     
         14 . An artificial surface according to  claim 1 , wherein the artificial surface is an artificial grass surface. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming an artificial surface according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 providing the material or yarn;   tufting the material or yarn to a primary backing or substrate.