Natural artificial turf infill
Provided herein is a natural binder-based infill for artificial turf having biodegradable granules. The granules have a natural binder that has been physically but not chemically modified by the addition of a quantity of filler material, and the granules have a mean size of between 0.2 and 5 mm.
1 . A natural binder based infill for artificial turf manufactured through an extrusion process, the infill comprising bio-degradable granules, wherein the granules comprise a natural binder that has been physically but not chemically modified by the addition of a quantity of filler material and an anti-tack agent mixed and dispersed throughout the granule, wherein the filler material comprises organic natural material, the anti-tack agent is a natural absorbent powder and all components of the granule are naturally occurring materials such that the granule can be broken down naturally, and wherein the granules have a mean size of between 0.2 mm and 5 mm.
2 . The infill according to claim 1 wherein the filler material comprises inorganic natural materials.
3 . The infill according to claim 1 , wherein the filler material comprises coir fibre, wood chip, cork, corn, coir pith, hemp, starch or plant waste.
4 . The infill according to claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises one or more binding agents selected from the group comprising: resins, gums, oils, waxes, proteins and starches.
5 . The infill according to claim 1 , wherein the granule comprises from 10-40 to 80 wt % of filler and from 10 to 40 wt % binder.
6 . The infill according to claim 1 , wherein the granules comprise inclusions, having a size of between 10% and 90% of the granule.
7 . The infill according to claim 6 , wherein each granule comprises a layer of natural binder coated onto one or more surfaces of an inclusion.
8 . The infill according to claim 1 , wherein the granules are loose and free flowing at temperatures between −10° C. and 80° C.
9 . The infill according to claim 1 , wherein the granule has a Shore A hardness of between 20 and 90.
10 . An artificial turf system comprising a quantity of the infill according to claim 1 .
11 . The artificial turf system according to claim 10 , further comprising a backing layer and artificial grass blades upstanding from the backing layer.
12 . The artificial turf system according to claim 10 , wherein the infill further comprises a quantity of particulates of a natural material that does not comprise a natural binder.
13 . A method of manufacturing an infill granule for artificial turf according to claim 1 , the method comprising:
cold forming of a precursor from a composition comprising a natural binder and a filler material by extrusion through a pelletizing machine;
dividing the precursor into granules; and
providing the granules with an anti-tack agent,
wherein the method is carried out without chemical modification of the natural binder by cross-linking or otherwise, and
wherein the precursor is provided with the anti-tack agent prior to dividing the precursor into granules.
14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the granules comprise the anti-tack agent applied to an outer surface of the precursor.
15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the anti-tack agent is sand, chalk, quartz, brick dust, charcoal or corn starch.
16 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising treating the granule with an anti-ageing step.
17 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the composition comprises 20% to 60% of filler, 20% to 60% natural rubber, and 10% to 30% anti-tack agent.
18 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the cold forming comprises extrusion through a pelletizing machine to form cylindrical pellets.