Artificial turf
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial turfs require a particulate layer to maintain fiber upright position, are not recyclable due to different polymer layers, and need constant moisture to prevent injuries, limiting their use and mobility.
Innovation Solution
An artificial turf composed of a damping layer, fiber backing, and artificial grass layer made from thermoplastic elastomers with the same monomer units, allowing for efficient recycling and eliminating the need for a particulate layer, with a damping layer that provides sufficient shock absorption and water permeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different polymers are used for separate layers to achieve ideal characteristics, then layer performance is optimized, but recycling becomes difficult due to separation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by using the same polymer material (polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate) for all three layers including the damping layer, fiber backing, and artificial grass layer. This uniform material composition enables easy recycling as a single polymer type while still achieving different layer characteristics through structural design and thermoplastic elastomer properties rather than material differentiation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a particulate layer is applied to keep fibers in upright position, then fiber stability is improved, but the artificial turf becomes immobile and location-fixed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the particulate layer (such as sand) that was traditionally used to maintain fiber upright position. Instead, the invention achieves fiber stability through the inherent properties of the thermoplastic elastomer material and the structural design of the damping layer and fiber backing, which provide sufficient support without requiring additional particulate infill, thereby enabling mobility and repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping layer made of thermoplastic elastomer particles serves as an intermediary structure that provides both shock absorption and fiber support functions. This layer mediates between the fiber backing and the artificial grass layer, maintaining fiber upright position through its mechanical properties rather than through particulate infill, thus enabling both stability and mobility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If constant moisture is maintained to prevent injuries, then safety is improved, but the artificial turf requires constant maintenance and cannot be used in dry conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The damping layer made of thermoplastic elastomer particles provides inherent shock absorption and injury prevention properties without requiring external moisture application. The material's viscoelastic properties enable it to absorb impact energy and reduce injury risk in dry conditions, eliminating the need for constant watering or moisture maintenance while still ensuring safety.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a mobile, easily installable and recyclable artificial turf with reduced injury risk, capable of mimicking natural grass feel and absorption, suitable for various applications without the need for constant moisture.
Implementation Method 1
a damping layer made of a particle foam
Implementation Method 2
thermoplastic elastomers which are composed of the same monomer units
Implementation Method 3
a damping layer made of a particle foam
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an artificial turf (1) comprising a damping layer (3) made of a particle foam, a fiber backing (5) and an artificial grass layer (7) made of single or multiple fibers, the fibers being tied to the fiber backing (5) forming an artificial carpet of grass, wherein the particle foam and the single or multiple fibers forming the artificial grass layer (7) each are made of a thermoplastic elastomer.