Performance infill for grass fields, process for the production thereof, and grass fields comprising said performance infill

Abstract

Performance infill for grass fields is disclosed, as well as a process for the production of performance infill, and to grass fields including such performance infill.

1 ) A performance infill for artificial turf, wherein said performance infill comprises:
 I) mineral filler selected from the group consisting of: talc, calcium carbonate, silica, barite, wherein said filler is comprised in the range from 5-50% by weight;   II) plant component selected from the group consisting of: cellulose and derivatives, lignin, hemicellulose, sisal, cotton and mixtures thereof,   wherein
 said plant component is comprised in the range from 0-50% by weight, and 
 said plant component is in extruded or loose form; 
   III) renewable raw material, wherein said renewable raw material is comprised in the range from 0-50% by weight;   IV) coloured pigment comprised in the range from 0-1% by weight,   wherein the sum of said I), II), III) and   IV) is equal to 100% by weight; and   wherein said performance infill always comprises at least the components II) or III) or mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         2 ) The performance infill according to  claim 1 , wherein said performance infill has a diameter comprised in the range from 0.5-3.15 mm. 
     
     
         3 ) A process for the production of performance infill, wherein said process comprises the steps of:
 i) loading—into a forced supply silos—a mixture comprising   i.1) mineral filler selected from the group consisting of: talc, calcium carbonate, silica, barite, wherein said filler is comprised in the range from 5-50% by weight;   i.2) plant component selected from the group consisting of: cellulose and derivatives, lignin, hemicellulose, sisal, cotton and mixtures thereof, wherein
 said plant component is comprised in the range from 0-50% by weight, and 
 said plant component is in extruded or loose form; 
   i.3) renewable raw material, wherein said renewable raw material is comprised in the range from 0-50% by weight;   i.4) coloured pigment comprised in the range from 0-1% by weight,   wherein the sum of said i.1), i.2), i.3) and i.4) is equal to 100% by weight, and wherein   said mixture always comprises at least the components i.2) and/or i.3) or mixtures thereof.   ii) extrusion of the mixture obtained from step i),   wherein said extrusion comprises the steps of:
 ii.a) forced thrust of the mixture obtained from step i) into an input chamber, 
 ii.b) thrust—through an extrusion screw—and heating the mixture obtained from ii.a) to a temperature lower than the melting of the mixture; 
 ii.c) thrust—through an extrusion screw—and melting the mixture obtained from ii.b), wherein said mixture obtained from ii.b) is molten to 60% of the total amount of the mixture; 
 ii.d) thrust—through an extrusion screw—and total melting of the mixture obtained from ii.c), amalgamating the mixture and recovering the extruded product; 
   
       wherein said temperature of steps ii.a) ii.b), ii.c) and ii.d) is comprised in the range from 100-315° C. 
     
     
         4 ) The process according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said temperature of step ii.a) is comprised in the range from 235-290° C.;   said temperature of steps ii.b) and ii.c) is comprised in the range from 240-295° C.;   said temperature of step ii.d) is comprised in the range from 255-315° C.   
     
     
         5 ) An artificial grass field comprising performance infill according to  claim 1  for sports activities, play grounds and sports surfaces. 
     
     
         6 ) The artificial grass field according to  claim 5 , wherein said sports activities are selected from the group consisting of: football/soccer, hockey, tennis, padel, golf, rugby, artificial mixed football/soccer, natural football/soccer.