Artificial turfs and method of making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11041258-B2
Application number	US-201716081279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2017
Priority date	Mar 3, 2016
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a linear low density polyethylene composition, tapes, fibers and filaments, artificial turfs, and method of making the same. The linear low density polyethylene composition according to the present disclosure exhibits each of the following properties: (1) a CEF fraction from 70 to 90° C. of equal to or greater than 80% of the total CEF fractions; (2) a melt index, I2, measured according to ASTM D 1238 (2.16 kg @190° C.), in the range of equal to or greater than 2.0 g/10 min and equal to or less than 5.0 g/10 min; and (3) a melt flow ratio, I10/I2, of equal to or less than 6.7.

First claim

We claim:

1. A linear low density polyethylene composition comprising:
(1) a Crystallization Elution Fractionation (CEF) fraction from 70 to 90° C. of equal to or greater than 80% of the total CEF fractions;
(2) a melt index, I 2 , measured according to ASTM D 1238 (2.16 kg @190° C.), in the range of equal to or greater than 2.0 g/10 min and equal to or less than 5.0 g/10 min; and
(3) a melt flow ratio, I 10 /I 2 , of equal to or less than 6.7.

2. The linear low density polyethylene composition of claim 1 , further comprising a density (measured according to ASTM D792) from 0.915 and 0.925 g/cm 3 .

3. The linear low density polyethylene composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene composition comprises units derived from ethylene and units derived from one or more comonomers selected from the group consisting of butane, hexane, and octene.

4. The linear low density polyethylene composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene composition comprises no units derived from octene.

5. The linear low density polyethylene composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene composition is produced by a solution phase or gas phase polymerization process utilizing one or two reactors.

6. An article of manufacture selected from the group consisting of tapes, fibers and filaments, wherein the article is produced from a linear low density polyethylene composition, and wherein the linear low density polyethylene composition comprises;
(1) a Crystallization Elution Fractionation (CEF) fraction from 70 to 90° C. of equal to or greater than 80% of the total CEF fractions;
(2) a melt index, I 2 , measured according to ASTM D 1238 (2.16 kg @190° C.), in the range of equal to or greater than 2.0 g/10 min and equal to or less than 5.0 g/10 min; and
(3) a melt flow ratio, I 10 /I 2 , of equal to or less than 6.7.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 6 which exhibits a stretch ratio of equal to or greater than 4.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 6 , wherein the article exhibits a shrinkage of equal to or less than 5.5%.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 6 , wherein the article is a stretched tape.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 6 , wherein the article is a monofilament.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 6 , wherein the article is a fiber.

12. An artificial turf system comprising one or more articles of manufacture according to claim 6 .

13. An artificial turf system comprising:
a primary backing having a top side and a bottom side; and
at least one artificial turf filament according to claim 10 ;
wherein the at least one artificial turf filament is affixed to the primary backing such that the at least one artificial turf filament provides a tufted face extending outwardly from the top side of the primary backing.

14. A method of manufacturing an artificial turf filament, the method comprising:
extruding a linear low density polyethylene composition into an artificial turf filament,
wherein the linear low density polyethylene composition comprises:
(1) a Crystallization Elution Fractionation (CEF) fraction from 70 to 90° C. of equal to or greater than 80% of the total CEF fractions;
(2) a melt index, I 2 , measured according to ASTM D 1238 (2.16 kg @190° C.), in the range of equal to or greater than 2.0 g/10 min and equal to or less than 5.0 g/10 min; and
(3) a melt flow ratio, I 10 /I 2 , of equal to or less than 6.7.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises stretching the artificial turf filament to a predetermined stretch ratio.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the stretch ratio is at least 4.

Assignees

• Dow Global Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Lopez David
• Den Doelder Cornelis F J
• Nieto Jesus
• Bonavoglia Barbara
• Gemoets Frederik E

Classifications

• C08F210/16

  Copolymers of ethene with alpha-alkenes, e.g. EP rubbers · CPC title

• D01F6/46

  of polyolefins · CPC title

• E01C13/08

  Surfaces simulating grass {; Grass-grown sports grounds (grass-like surfaces for skiing E01C13/12)} · CPC title

• D10B2505/202

  Artificial grass · CPC title

• D01D5/08

  Melt spinning methods {(D01D5/0023 takes precedence)} · CPC title