Artificial vegetation with engineered reflectance spectra
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional artificial turfs absorb and store heat, leading to elevated surface and air temperatures, especially in urban environments, and lack the aesthetic and mental health benefits of natural vegetation, while natural vegetation requires significant maintenance and takes time to provide shade.
Innovation Solution
An artificial turf system comprising synthetic filaments with engineered pigments that reflect a majority of near-infrared radiation and thermal energy, coupled with a substrate base layer, manufactured using injection molding techniques, to mimic the reflectance properties of natural vegetation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional artificial turf is used, then aesthetic benefits and low maintenance are provided, but surface temperature increases and heat absorption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by incorporating pigments with specific spectral reflectance properties into the synthetic filaments. The pigments are engineered to reflect near-infrared radiation while maintaining visible green color, effectively changing the optical properties of the turf to reduce heat absorption while preserving aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining synthetic polymer filaments with specially engineered pigments that have high near-infrared reflectance. This composite structure allows the turf to maintain the durability and low maintenance characteristics of synthetic materials while adding thermal management properties through the pigment component.
2Temperature
If natural vegetation is used, then evaporative cooling and aesthetic benefits are provided, but significant maintenance and irrigation are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by replicating the beneficial optical properties of natural vegetation in synthetic materials. The engineered pigments copy the near-infrared reflectance characteristic of healthy plant leaves, allowing artificial turf to achieve similar thermal management benefits without requiring the biological functions or maintenance of real plants.
3Temperature
If artificial turf with traditional pigments is used, then aesthetic appearance is maintained, but thermal energy reflection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the spectral reflectance parameters of the pigments used in artificial turf. The engineered pigments are designed with specific reflectance characteristics in the near-infrared region while maintaining appropriate visible spectrum properties, effectively changing the optical parameters to improve thermal energy reflection.
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 maintains a cooler surface temperature, reduces the need for irrigation, and provides aesthetic flexibility without affecting turf color, while also offering improved thermal management and reduced color fading.
Implementation Method 1
the pigment is configured to reflect a majority of near-infrared radiation
Implementation Method 2
emit their own thermal energy
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial turf system may comprise a plurality of synthetic filaments and a substrate base layer coupled to the plurality of synthetic filaments. Each filament of the plurality of synthetic filaments may comprise a pigment having an elevated solar reflectance for wavelengths less than 2500 nm. This elevated solar reflectance may be configured to reflect near-infrared radiation, thereby reducing near-surface air temperatures and the artificial turf surface temperatures. Such engineered pigments may also be advantageously used in the leaves of artificial vegetation systems, such as, for example, artificial shrubs and trees.