Abstract: A coextrusion head for manufacturing a bicomponent polymer fiber, comprising a first inlet for receiving a core polymer component, a second inlet for receiving a cladding polymer component, and a dual-channel nozzle comprising an inner channel and an outer channel encompassing the inner channel. The inner and outer channel are in hydraulic connection with the first and second inlet, respectively. The dual-channel nozzle further comprises a joining path establishing a hydraulic connection between the inner channel, the outer channel, and a nozzle outlet of the dual-channel nozzle. The joining path is adapted for bringing the core polymer component and the cladding polymer component into contact with each other such that a contact layer comprising a mixture of the core polymer component and the cladding polymer component is formed between the core polymer component and the cladding polymer component.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing artificial turf creating a liquid polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture is at least a two-phase system. A first one of the phases includes a first polymer and a first dye, and a second one of the phases of the polymer mixture includes a second polymer and a second dye. The second dye has a different color than the first dye, the second polymer being of the same or of a different type as the first polymer. The first and the second phase are immiscible, the first phase forming polymer beads within the second phase. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament including a marbled pattern of the first and second color; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into threadlike regions and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber; and incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.

Abstract: An artificial turf fiber comprising at least one monofilament, each monofilament comprising a cylindrical core and a cladding. The core comprises a core polymer and threadlike regions formed by a thread polymer and embedded in the core polymer. The cladding is formed by a cladding polymer surrounding the core. It has a non-circular profile and is miscible with the core polymer.

Abstract: A method for producing an artificial turf fiber, comprising: preparing a core polymer mixture from a core polymer and a thread polymer forming beads within the core polymer; coextruding the core polymer mixture with a cladding polymer component into a monofilament, the core polymer mixture forming a cylindrical core, The cladding polymer component forming a cladding encompassing the core with a non-circular profile; quenching the monofilament; reheating the quenched monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to deform the beads into threadlike regions; and providing one or more of the stretched monofilaments as the artificial turf fiber.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of delaying and reducing texture reversion of a textured artificial turf yarn (145), characterized by using a stretched and textured monofilament yarn as the textured artificial turf yarn, the stretched and textured monofilament yarn comprising a polymer mixture (400, 500), wherein the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system, wherein the polymer mixture comprises a first polymer (402), a second polymer (404), and a compatibilizer (406), wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, wherein the first polymer forms polymer beads (408) surrounded by the compatibilizer within the second polymer.

Abstract: The invention provides for an artificial turf fiber comprising or consisting of polymer material. The polymer material comprises a first flame retardant. The first flame retardant is a salt having a positive enthalpy of solution in water.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing artificial turf includes a fiber inserter configured to incorporate artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing to form the artificial turf. The artificial turf includes an underside and an artificial turf surface. The machine further includes a coater configured to coat the underside with a colloidal latex coating. The colloidal latex coating has an exposed surface. The machine further includes an applicator configured to wett an exposed surface of the colloidal latex coating with an anti-blistering agent. The machine further includes a heater configured to heat the underside to cure the colloidal latex coating into a solid latex coating.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tufted surface covering includes incorporating tuft fiber into a backing to form the tufted surface covering, wherein the tufted surface covering includes an underside and a pile surface; coating the underside with a colloidal latex coating, wherein the colloidal latex coating has an exposed surface; wetting the exposed surface with an anti-blistering agent; and heating at least the underside to cure the colloidal latex coating into a solid latex coating.

Abstract: An synthetic turf testing apparatus includes a test element, wherein the test element has a contact surface for contacting an synthetic turf surface, wherein the test element includes a temperature sensor for measuring a time dependent surface temperature of the contact surface; a pedestal attached to the test element, wherein the pedestal is configured for applying force to the test element; a carriage for translating the pedestal along a translational path; a guide structure for supporting the carriage and guiding the carriage along the translational path; and an actuator for moving the carriage relative to the guide structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing artificial turf creating a liquid polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture is at least a two-phase system. A first one of the phases includes a first polymer and a first dye, and a second one of the phases of the polymer mixture includes a second polymer and a second dye. The second dye has a different color than the first dye, the second polymer being of the same or of a different type as the first polymer. The first and the second phase are immiscible, the first phase forming polymer beads within the second phase. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament including a marbled pattern of the first and second color; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into threadlike regions and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber; and incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an artificial turf fiber includes creating a polymer mixture that includes, 60-99% by weight of an LLDPE polymer and 1-15% by weight of an LDPE polymer. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; and stretching the reheated monofilament to form the monofilament into the artificial turf fiber.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing artificial turf includes a fiber inserter configured to incorporate artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing to form the artificial turf. The artificial turf includes an underside and an artificial turf surface. The machine further includes a coater configured to coat the underside with a colloidal latex coating. The colloidal latex coating has an exposed surface. The machine further includes an applicator configured to welt an exposed surface of the colloidal latex coating with an anti-blistering agent. The machine further includes a heater configured to heat the underside to cure the colloidal latex coating into a solid latex coating.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tufted surface covering includes incorporating tuft fiber into a backing to form the tufted surface covering, wherein the tufted surface covering includes an underside and a pile surface; coating the underside with a colloidal latex coating, wherein the colloidal latex coating has an exposed surface; wetting the exposed surface with an anti-blistering agent; and heating at least the underside to cure the colloidal latex coating into a solid latex coating.

Abstract: The method includes creating a polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture includes a stabilizing polymer, a bulk polymer, a flame retardant polymer combination, and a compatibilizer. The stabilizing polymer and the bulk polymer are immiscible. The stabilizing polymer includes fibers surrounded by the compatibilizer within the bulk polymer. The stabilizing polymer is aramid. The flame retardant polymer combination is a mixture of triazin and melamine. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament. The method further includes quenching the monofilament. The method further includes reheating the monofilament. The method further includes stretching the reheated monofilament to align the fibers relative to each other and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber. The method further includes incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of manufacturing artificial turf (1000). The method comprising the steps of: creating (100) a polymer mixture (100, 400, 500), wherein the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system, wherein the polymer mixture comprises a first polymer (402), a second polymer (404), and a compatibiiizer (406), wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, wherein the first polymer forms polymer beads (408) surrounded by the compatibiiizer within the second polymer; extruding (102) the polymer mixture into a monofilament (606); quenching (104) the monofilament; reheating (106) the monofilament; stretching (108) the reheated monofilament to deform the polymer beads into threadlike regions (800) and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber (1004); incorporating (110) the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf carpet (1002).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing artificial turf includes the steps of: creating a polymer mixture including at least one polymer and a nucleating agent for crystallizing the at least one polymer, extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament; quenching the monofilament; reheating the monofilament; stretching the reheated monofilament to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber, wherein during the stretching the nucleating agent boosts the creation of crystalline portions of the polymer within the monofilament; incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing, thereby mechanically fixing the monofilaments of the arranged artificial turf fibers in the artificial turf backing.