Abstract: Disclosed is an artificial turf fiber comprising a core (362) comprising or consisting of an aged polymer, a cladding layer (366) comprising or consisting of a virgin polymer, and a barrier layer (364) positioned between the core and the cladding layer, said barrier layer being adapted to inhibit the migration of molecules from the core to the cladding layer.

Abstract: A method for making an artificial turf, the method comprising: providing a carrier (308) and an artificial turf fiber (501) incorporated into the carrier such that a first portion of the artificial turf fiber (506) protrudes to a back side of the carrier, a second portion of the artificial turf fiber (302) protrudes to a front side of the carrier, and a third portion of the artificial turf fiber (504) is inside the carrier; preparing a polyurethane (PU) foam reaction mixture (210) containing a reactive foam stabilizer (RFS), applying the PU foam reaction mixture on the back side of the carrier (308) to cover the artificial turf fiber (506) protruding to the back side of the carrier (308) and hardening the PU foam reaction mixture to form a flexible PU backing securing the turf fiber in place.

Abstract: An artificial turf infill comprising a thermally treated olive pit material. The thermally treated olive pit material exhibits exceptional antimicrobial resistance and biodegradation resistance in moist and humid conditions. In some embodiments, the thermally treated olive pit material comprises olive pit fragments that have been heated to a sufficiently high temperature to chemically modify the structure/composition of the hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin components and render them resistant to biodegradation in moist/humid environment.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of manufacturing artificial turf (1000). The method includes creating a polymer mixture, such as polymer mixture (400), where the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system. The polymer mixture includes a first polymer, a second polymer and a compatibilizer. The first polymer is a polyamide (PA) and the second polymer is a polyethylene (PE). The first polymer is included in an amount of 0.125 percent to 5 percent by weight, the second polymer is included in an amount of 60 percent to 97 percent by weight and the compatibilizer is included in an amount of 0.375 percent to 15 percent by weight. The first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, and the first polymer forms polymer beads surrounded by the compatibilizer within the second polymer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the dielectric barrier discharge device includes a first electrode and a second electrode; a conveyor unit configured for moving a carrier mesh through an air gap formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the carrier mesh includes a backside, and wherein the carrier mesh includes fibers integrated such that a portion of the fibers are exposed on the backside; a control unit configured to control the dielectric barrier discharge device to apply a dielectric barrier discharge to the backside of the carrier mesh as the carrier mesh moves through the air gap for plasma-activating the backside; and a dispensing unit configured to apply a backing layer to the plasma-activated backside of the carrier mesh for providing the artificial turf.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an elastic component (404) of a sports floor (400, 500, 600). The component comprises: aged rubber particles (204); and a PU matrix (302) that comprises the rubber particles, the PU matrix being the reaction product of a PU-rubber reaction mixture (300) comprising the aged rubber particles, a PU binder composition (206) and a plasticizer (210).

Abstract: Disclosed is a sports floor component (200, 404, 6001) comprising covalently cross-linked rubber (902), and further comprising a filler (700, 904), wherein the rubber is natural rubber or epoxidized natural rubber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sports floor component (200, 402, 404) comprising cross-linked rubber, and further comprising lignin (700, 904, 1104, 1112).

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus suitable for manufacturing artificial turf polymer fiber, in particular from LLDPE that is free of fiber splitting, wherein the extrusion apparatus is characterized in that a ratio of an equivalent diameter of the nozzle outlet over an axial length of the inner channel of the nozzle is from 0.90 to 1.10, or from 0.95 to 1.05.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a sports floor component (200, 404), comprising: mixing (102) epoxidized natural rubber, ENR, a filler (700, 904, 1104, 1112) and imidazole or an imidazole derivate to provide a rubber composition; curing (106) the rubber composition to form a matrix of reversibly cross-linked ENR molecules incorporating the filler.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an artificial turf (126, 108). The method comprises providing a strip of artificial turf (108) by attaching artificial turf fibers (120) to a substrate (110). The method further comprises acquiring optical data (162) descriptive of a surface (126) of the artificial turf using an optical sensor system (104). The method further comprises receiving a turf quality metric (166) in response to inputting the optical data into a computer vision module (164). The turf quality metric is descriptive of the presence of at least one of a predetermined list of manufacturing defects (700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200). The method further comprises labeling the strip of artificial turf (108) with the turf quality metric.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of determining an aging status (126) of an artificial turf (502). The artificial turf is located at a geographic location. The method comprises receiving (200) time-series data (124) descriptive of environmental conditions at the geographic location. The method further comprises receiving (202) the aging status in response to inputting the time-series data into a trained neural network (122). The method further comprises providing (204) the aging status.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus suitable for manufacturing artificial turf polymer fiber, in particular from LLDPE that is free of fiber splitting, wherein the extrusion apparatus is characterized in that a ratio of an equivalent diameter of the nozzle outlet over an axial length of the inner channel of the nozzle is from 0.90 to 1.10, or from 0.95 to 1.05.

Abstract: Disclosed is an artificial turf fiber (204, 502-510, 804, 902-906, 1500, 1602-1618) comprising a longitudinal cross-sectional profile, the artificial turf fiber being under internal stress that causes the artificial turf fiber, upon receiving heat treatment, to assume a helical shape, wherein the core of the fiber consists of or predominantly comprises a core polymer, and wherein the periphery of the fiber consists of or predominantly comprises a cladding polymer, wherein the core polymer and the cladding polymer are different polymer materials, and wherein the core and cladding polymers are selected such that the core polymer undergoes greater shrinkage than the cladding polymer when subjected to the heat treatment.