Hybrid Turf

The present invention relates to the field of turfs and in particular to a hybrid turf.

As known, hybrid turfs are portions of soil comprising natural (grass) and synthetic fibers, suitably interspersed, to obtain portions of lawn. The reinforcement imparted to natural fibers (natural grass) by synthetic fibers (artificial grass) ensures stability and a uniform playing surface immediately after installation.

The grass crown (heart) is then located between the artificial fibers covered with sand, where it is protected from wear and tear damage.

In some cases, synthetic turfs are constrained in an open-weave backing, clogged with specific sand.

In other cases, synthetic turfs do not provide backing elements and are directly “sewn” into the soil.

The Applicant has observed that whenever a new hybrid turf mat is to be installed at a site of use, the synthetic components of the old worn-out hybrid turf mat must be completely removed from the soil before the new hybrid turf can be installed. Removing the worn-out hybrid turf mat may not be easy, as the hybrid turf mat is often strongly interconnected with the roots of natural herbaceous plants. The disposal of the worn-out hybrid turf mat is challenging because the mixture of natural grass, dirt and synthetic materials, if undivided and washed, cannot be recycled, is expensive to dispose of and, therefore, has a strong environmental impact.

The Applicant has therefore observed that an ever increasing number of producers of hybrid and artificial grass have begun to replace the conventional fibers and backing materials with biodegradable materials.

For example, the International Patent Application WO 2007/114686 describes the use of biodegradable synthetic fibers consisting of starch and polylactic acid.

The Applicant has however observed that the biodegradable fibers used to date do not allow a precise estimate of the biodegradability timings.

In fact, biodegradation is a process that depends on a plurality of environmental factors and on the actual life expectancy of an artificial or hybrid turf mat.

The Applicant has posed the problem of implementing a hybrid turf which is easy and economical to replace and dispose of and whose disposal does not result in a great environmental impact.

The Applicant has also posed the problem of implementing a hybrid turf which has precise biodegradability timings.

The Applicant has also posed the problem of the environmental impact of the current plastics used for this application, since they are in direct contact with the soil and aquifers.

Therefore, the invention, in a first aspect thereof, relates to a hybrid turf comprising a plurality of synthetic fibers grouped in skeins, each comprising a plurality of filiform elements;

The present invention, in the aforementioned aspect, can have at least one of the preferred characteristics hereinafter described.

Preferably, the first net comprises at least one copolymer of 1,4-butanediol, succinic acid and adipic acid (PBSA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate.

Advantageously, said polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is present in an amount by weight to the amount of total polymers.

Preferably, said polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is present in an amount between 10 and 90% by weight to the total amount of polymers in the polymeric composition.

Conveniently, said first net or said filiform elements comprise at least one plasticizer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), acetyl-tri-n-butyl citrate (ATBC), isosorbide diester (ISE), sorbitol, glycerol, Acetylated monoglycerides, Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO), Triethyl citrate (TEC), tri(ethylene glycol)-bis-(2-ethyl hexanoate) (TEG-EH), Tributyl citrate (TBC), 1,3,2,4-dibenzylidene sorbitol, 1,3-p-methylbenzylidene-2,4-benzylidene sorbitol, bis-(stearylureide) hexane, 1,3,2,4-di-(p-methylbenzylidene) sorbitol, 1,3,2,4-dibenzylidene sorbitol, and mixtures thereof.

Conveniently, said first net/or said filiform elements () comprise at least 80% by weight to the respective total weight of a polymeric composition comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), copolymer of 1,4-butanediol, succinic acid and adipic acid (PBSA), polybutylene succinate (PBS) or mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the first net/or said filiform elements comprise at least one nucleant selected from the group consisting of Boron Nitride, Nanocrystalline Cellulose, Montmorillonite nano-clay, pentaerythritol, di-pentaerythritol, and mixtures thereof.

Advantageously, the first net and/or said filiform elements comprise at least one functional additive selected from the group consisting of: Beeswax, Carnauba wax, Candelilla wax, Sumac wax (Japanese wax), and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the first net and/or said filiform elements comprise at least one viscosity modifier and/or compatibilizer selected from the group consisting of DCP dicumyl peroxide, TBPB of tert-Butylperoxybenzoate, Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), Multi-functionalized styrene-co-glycidyl methacrylate oligomer (Joncryl®), Triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC), Benzoyl peroxide (BPO), Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI).

Conveniently, the hybrid turf comprises a backing element for the plurality of synthetic fibers; said backing element comprising at least one first layer comprising a second net that is made of natural organic material comprising meshes defining a plurality of openings configured so as to allow natural grass to take root therein, and at least one second layer, coupled to said first layer, said second layer comprising said first net.

Preferably, the hybrid turf comprises a plurality of grass blades interspersed with the plurality of synthetic fibers.

Conveniently, the second net includes meshes, each mesh being able to be inscribed in a square with side in the range between 0.2 cm and 2 cm.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more evident from the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a hybrid turf according to the present invention.

With reference to the figures, a turf, preferably a hybrid turf according to the present invention, is denoted by the numerical reference.

Inis shown that a first embodiment of the hybrid turfaccording to the present invention comprises a backing elementand a plurality of synthetic fiberscombined with the backing element.

The hybrid turffurther comprises a plurality of grass bladeswhich are alternated with the synthetic fibers, so as to make a substantially continuous mat of grass bladesand synthetic fibers.

When installed, the backing elementmay have a substantially planar configuration comprising at least one first layermade of a second netmade of a natural organic material, preferably cotton.

Preferably, the second netcomprises meshes defining a plurality of openings configured so as to allow the natural grass bladesto root inside it.

For this purpose, the second netcomprises meshesbeing able to be inscribed in a square with side in the range between 0.1 cm and 2 cm.

In the embodiment shown in, the backing elementalso comprises a second layermade of a first netmade of a biodegradable polymeric composition.

Preferably, the biodegradable polymeric composition making the first netis the same as the synthetic fibers.

The first netcomprises meshesdefining a plurality of openings.

For this purpose, the first netcomprises meshesbeing able to be inscribed, in plan view, in a square with side in the range between 0.2 cm and 2 cm.

In the embodiment shown in, the first layeris combined with the second layer.

Preferably, the first layeris combined with the second layerby hot-melt gluing.

Even more preferably, the first layeris combined with the second layerby a hot-lamination process.

In production, during the step of combining the first layerwith the second layer, there is substantial overlap between the meshesof the second netwith the meshesof the first net, so as to leave the openings adapted to allow the natural grass to cross the layers and take root thereunder.

In the embodiment shown in, a plurality of synthetic fibersmade of a biodegradable compound, which is described in more detail below, are constrained to the backing elementconstituted by the first 4 and second 6 layers combined together.

The synthetic fibersare grouped into skeinsevenly distributed on the turf.

The synthetic fibersare grouped into skeinsevenly distributed on the hybrid turf, so as to form a fiber density per m(square meter) in the range between 45000 fibers/mand 80000 fibers/m.

Each skein, better shown in, comprises a plurality of filiform elementsmade of a biodegradable compound, described in more detail below.

The synthetic fibersare thus depicted by the filiform elements.

Each skeincomprises a number of filiform elementsor synthetic fibersranging from five to fifteen, preferably from six to twelve.

In each skein, the filiform elementshave the same extent ranging from 2 to 20 cm, including extremes.

In each skein, the filiform elementsare twisted together for at least a length T of their extent.

Preferably, in every skein, the filiform elementsare twisted together for at least ⅓ of their extent.