WO2006136436A1 - Styrene block copolymers as infill material in artificial turf systems - Google Patents

Styrene block copolymers as infill material in artificial turf systems Download PDF

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WO2006136436A1
WO2006136436A1 PCT/EP2006/006070 EP2006006070W WO2006136436A1 WO 2006136436 A1 WO2006136436 A1 WO 2006136436A1 EP 2006006070 W EP2006006070 W EP 2006006070W WO 2006136436 A1 WO2006136436 A1 WO 2006136436A1
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styrene
block copolymers
polyolefin
isobutylene
fields
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French (fr)
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Albertus Otto Dozeman
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DSM IP Assets BV
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DSM IP Assets BV
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L53/00—Compositions of block copolymers containing at least one sequence of a polymer obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
    • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L53/00—Compositions of block copolymers containing at least one sequence of a polymer obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
    • C08L53/02—Compositions of block copolymers containing at least one sequence of a polymer obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers of vinyl-aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01C—CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR
    • E01C13/00—Pavings or foundations specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds; Drainage, irrigation or heating of sports grounds
    • E01C13/08—Surfaces simulating grass ; Grass-grown sports grounds
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
    • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
    • C08K5/0008—Organic ingredients according to more than one of the "one dot" groups of C08K5/01 - C08K5/59
    • C08K5/0041—Optical brightening agents, organic pigments
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
    • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
    • C08K5/0008—Organic ingredients according to more than one of the "one dot" groups of C08K5/01 - C08K5/59
    • C08K5/005—Stabilisers against oxidation, heat, light, ozone
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L2205/00—Polymer mixtures characterised by other features
    • C08L2205/02—Polymer mixtures characterised by other features containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
    • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
    • C08L23/04—Homopolymers or copolymers of ethene
    • C08L23/06—Polyethylene
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
    • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
    • C08L23/04—Homopolymers or copolymers of ethene
    • C08L23/08—Copolymers of ethene
    • C08L23/0807—Copolymers of ethene with unsaturated hydrocarbons only containing four or more carbon atoms
    • C08L23/0815—Copolymers of ethene with unsaturated hydrocarbons only containing four or more carbon atoms with aliphatic 1-olefins containing one carbon-to-carbon double bond
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
    • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
    • C08L23/10—Homopolymers or copolymers of propene
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
    • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
    • C08L23/16—Ethylene-propylene or ethylene-propylene-diene copolymers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
    • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
    • C08L23/18—Homopolymers or copolymers of hydrocarbons having four or more carbon atoms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L23/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
    • C08L23/02—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
    • C08L23/18—Homopolymers or copolymers of hydrocarbons having four or more carbon atoms
    • C08L23/20—Homopolymers or copolymers of hydrocarbons having four or more carbon atoms having four to nine carbon atoms
    • C08L23/22—Copolymers of isobutene; Butyl rubber; Homopolymers or copolymers of other iso-olefins
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
    • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
    • C08L91/00—Compositions of oils, fats or waxes; Compositions of derivatives thereof

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the use of styrene block copolymers as infill material in artificial turf systems.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the above stated drawbacks and to provide an infill material for an artificial turf system, which reproduces more the characteristics of a natural turf system for football or rugby, as required in respectively the FIFA 2 star/1 star (1 July 2004) and IRB regulations (April 2004) on artificial turf.
  • This object is achieved by the use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers as infill material in artificial turf systems.
  • SIBS styrene-isobutylene block copolymers
  • styrene-isoprene block copolymers as infill material in artificial turf systems provides artificial turf systems with an improved ball rebound and a better energy restitution.
  • the styrene-isobutylene block copolymer for example comprises between 60-95-wt% of p-isobutylene based on the total weight of the block copolymer. Preferably between 70-85 wt% of p-isobutylene based on the total weight of the blockcopolymer.
  • the block copolymers are polymerised by cationic living polymerisation. Styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or SIBS are commercially available for example from Kaneka under the trademark SIBSTAR®.
  • the styrene-isoprene block copolymers for example comprise polystyrene blocks and polyisoprene or vinyl-polyisoprene blocks. It is also possible that the polyisoprene or vinyl-polyisoprene blocks are hydrogenated.
  • the styrene-isoprene block copolymers are tri-block copolymers. Those tri-block copolymers are commercially available from for example Kuraray Co. under the tradename HybrarTM.
  • the styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers may for example further comprise a polyolefin and/or a styrene based thermoplastic elastomer. It is thus possible that the SIBS block copolymers or styrene- isoprene block copolymers comprise both a polyolefin and a styrene based thermoplastic elastomer.
  • the polyolefin may be chosen from polyolefin homopolymers, polyolefin copolymers or a polyolefin composition.
  • homopolymers are polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene.
  • polyolefin copolymers are for example ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers in which the alpha-olefin comprises between 3-10 C-atoms.
  • ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers are ethylene- vinylacetate, ethylene-vinyl alcohol, ethylene-propylene copolymers or ethylene- butylenes copolymers.
  • the ethylene-propylene copolymers may for example comprise between 75-95-wt% of propylene based on the total weight of the ethylene-propylene copolymers.
  • polyolefin compositions comprising 20-50 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and 50-80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100. More preferably, the polyolefin compositions comprise between 20 and 40 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and between 60 and 80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100.
  • the crystalline polyolefin is preferably selected from a polypropylene homopolymer or an ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer.
  • the alpha-olefin is selected from the group comprising propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene and 4- methyl-1-pentene. Among these, propylene and 1-butene are preferred.
  • the content by weight of units derived from ethylene is preferably between 40 and 70%, more preferably between 50 and 70% most preferable between 60 and 70%.
  • the content by weight of units derived from alpha. -olefins is preferably between 30 and 60%, more preferably between 30 and 50%, most preferably between 30 and 40%.
  • Particularly preferred are the copolymers, which contain 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably 1 to 10%, of units derived from a polyene.
  • Such a polyene can be selected from the group comprising trans-1 ,4- hexadiene, cis-1 ,4-hexadiene, 6-methyl-1 ,5-heptadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-1 ,6-octadiene and 11-methyl-1 ,10-dodecadiene; monocyclic diolefins such as, for example, cis-1 , 5- cyclooctadiene and 5-methyl-1 ,5-cyclooctadiene; bicyclic diolefins such as, for example, 4,5,8,9-tetrahydroindene and 6- and/or 7-methyl-4,5,8,9-tetrahydroindene; alkenyl- or alkylidene-norbomenes such as, for example, 5-ethylidene-2-norbomene, 5- isopropylidene-2-norbomene and exo-5-isopropenyl-2
  • the elastomer can advantageously be prepared by polymerising mixtures of ethylene, alpha-olefin and, if appropriate, polyene in the presence of a catalytic system comprising for example a metallocene catalyst and an alumoxane.
  • a catalytic system comprising for example a metallocene catalyst and an alumoxane.
  • the polyolefin compositions can be prepared by directly in the reactor by means of sequential polymerization.
  • the compositions obtained according to this technique in fact show better elastomeric properties than those of the compositions obtained by simple mechanical mixing.
  • These polyolefine compositions also known as reactor TPO's, are commercially available for example under the tradename Hifax®.
  • styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers and a polyolefin composition comprising 20-50 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and 50-80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100, as infill material is preferred.
  • styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers with an ethylene-alpha-olefin as infill material is even more preferred.
  • the styrene based thermoplastic elastomers are for example block copolymers or terpolymers having one or two terminal polymeric blocks of for example polystyrene or poly-alpha-methylstyrene, and at least one non-terminal block of an elastomeric polymer, for example polybutadiene or polyisoprene.
  • block copolymers are those of general form polystyrene-polybutadiene- polystyrene (SBS), polystyrene-poly(ethylene/propylene) (SEP), poly-alpha- methylstyrene-polybutadiene-poly-alpha-methylstyrene, polystyrene-ethylene- propylene-polystyrene (SEPS), polystyrene-poly(ethylene/butylenes)-polystyrene (SEBS), polystyrene-poly(ethylene/ethylene/propylene)-b-polystyrene (SEEPS), or crosslinkable styrenic block copolymers produced by Kuraray Co., Ltd under the trade name Septon V.
  • SBS polystyrene-polybutadiene- polystyrene
  • SEP polystyrene-poly(ethylene/propylene)
  • SEEPS polys
  • styrene block copolymers are commercially available from Kraton Polymers LLC under the trademark KRATON and from Kuraray Co., Ltd under the trade name Septon.
  • SEBS polystyrene-poly(ethylene/butylenes)-polystyrene
  • SBS polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene
  • SEBS polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene
  • SBS polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene
  • the use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene- isoprene block copolymers and SBS or SEBS as infill material is preferred.
  • the content styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene- isoprene block copolymers, polyolefin and/or styrene based thermoplastic elastomer may be chosen in that way that the hardness of the total composition varies between 40-90 Shore A. Preferably the Shore A hardness varies between 50-70.
  • the styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers comprise a polyolefin and a styrene based thermoplastic elastomer
  • the content of the styrene-isobutylene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, the polyolefin and the styrene based thermoplastic elastomer is to be chosen in such a way that the hardness of the total composition varies between 40-90 Shore A.
  • the Shore A hardness varies between 50-70.
  • the styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers may optionally comprise customary additives.
  • additives are reinforcing and non-reinforcing fillers, plasticizers, antioxidants, stabilizers, oil, antistatic agents, waxes, foaming agents, pigments, flame retardants and other known agents and are described in the Rubber World Magazine Blue Book, and in Gaether et al., Plastics Additives Handbook (Hanser 1990).
  • suitable fillers are calcium carbonate, clay, silica, talc, titanium dioxide, and carbon.
  • oils examples include paraffinic oil or naphthenic oil obtained from petroleum fractions.
  • paraffinic oil for example Sunpar TM oil can be used.
  • highly hydrogenated oil in which the concentration of aromatic compounds is preferably less than 4 wt.% and the concentration of polar compounds is less than 0.3 wt.% can be used.
  • An example of such oil is PennzUltraTM 1199, supplied by Pennzoil in the United States of America.
  • the infill material according to the present invention is preferably used as a granulate having a shape defined on the Krumbein scale with a sphericity in the range of 0.7-0.9 combined with a roundness of at least 0.7 and a length/diameter (L/D) ratio between 0.8-1.2 whereby the granules have a uniform particle size.
  • styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers optionally in combination with a polyolefin and/or styrene based thermoplastic elastomer as set out above are useful as infill material in soccer fields, hockey fields, rugby fields or tennis fields.
  • the present invention further relates to a composition of a styrene- isobutylene block or styrene-isoprene block copolymer, a polyolefin and/or styrene based thermoplastic elastomer.
  • the polyolefin is described above.
  • Preferred is a composition comprising styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers and an ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer or a polyolefin composition comprising 20-50 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and 50-80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100.
  • the styrene-isobutylene block copolymer is preferably SIBSTAR®.
  • the styrene-isoprene block copolymers is preferably Hybrar® These compositions provide a soft touch feel due to low hardness values, good gas barrier properties, durability against heat and weathering and excellent vibration damping properties.
  • composition comprising styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers, an ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer or a polyolefin composition comprising 20-50 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and 50-80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100 and SBS or SEBS.
  • the present invention also relates to a composition
  • a composition comprising a styrene-isobutylene block copolymer or styrene-isoprene block copolymer and SBS or SEBS. These compositions show improved oil absorption.
  • the compositions are preferably used in hockey fields, rugby fields or tennis fields.
  • Ball rebound is determined by an iron ball, which is dropped from a fixed height, and it was observed how many time the ball was height rebounding on a 6 mm injection moulded plaque.
  • a granulate of a compound comprising SIBSTAR R 102 T, a polyolefin, filler, oil, UV stabilizer and pigment was used as infill material in an artificial turf system.
  • the ball rebound was measured and compared to Terra XPS R , which is a thermoplastic elastomer comprising SEBS, a polyolefin, filler, oil, UV stabilizer and pigment and which is commercially available from DSM.
  • the ball rebound was classified from 0-5: The results are shown in table 1. From table 1 it is clear that the use of the SIBSTAR R 102T compound results in a reduction of height rebound of approx of 20-30% and total 2 rebounds if compared with Terra XPS R .
  • Example 2 A granulate of a compound comprising HYBRAR R 2, a polyolefin, filler, oil, UV stabilizer and pigment was used as infill material in an artificial turf system, the ball rebound was measured and compared to Terra XPS R .

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Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene isoprene block copolymers as infill material in artificial turf systems. The styrene-isobutylene block copolymers preferably comprise 70-85-wt% p-isobutylene based on the total weight of the styrene-isobutylene block copolymer. Preferably the styrene-isobutylene or styrene isoprene block copolymers further comprise a polyolefin and/or a styrene based thermoplastic elastomer. The polyolefin is chosen from a polyolefin homopolymer, a polyolefin copolymer or a polyolefin composition. The styrene based thermoplastic elastomer is chosen from SBS or SEBS. The content of the styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene isoprene block copolymers, the polyolefin and/or the styrene based thermoplastic elastomer is chosen in that way that the hardness varies between 40 and 90 Shore A. The infill material is usefull in soccer fields, hockey fields, rugby fields or tennis fields.

Description

STYRENE BLOCK COPOLYMERS AS INFILL MATERIAL IN ARTIFICIAL TURF
SYSTEMS
The present invention relates to the use of styrene block copolymers as infill material in artificial turf systems.
Artificial turf has achieved growing popularity in recent years, particularly for football fields. An important reason for this trend is a new generation of artificial-turf systems, in which fibres with low sliding resistance are utilised in combination with elastomer material as infill material. Styrene block copolymers as infill material for artificial turf structures are for example known from EP-A-1386944. In EP- A-1386944 styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene and styrene-ethylene-ethylene-styrene block copolymers are disclosed as compaction material for synthetic lawn.
Over the last years the artificial turf systems, for example artificial grass, have been improved using new developments in fibre technology, infill materials, tuft technology and total system installations. However still a lot of disadvantages exists namely in reaching the desired level of properties as for example energy restitution and vertical ball rebound. These properties are still not sufficient to provide an artificial turf system with the performance of natural turf. The object of the present invention is to overcome the above stated drawbacks and to provide an infill material for an artificial turf system, which reproduces more the characteristics of a natural turf system for football or rugby, as required in respectively the FIFA 2 star/1 star (1 July 2004) and IRB regulations (April 2004) on artificial turf. This object is achieved by the use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers as infill material in artificial turf systems.
Surprisingly, it has been found that the use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers (SIBS) or styrene-isoprene block copolymers as infill material in artificial turf systems provides artificial turf systems with an improved ball rebound and a better energy restitution.
The styrene-isobutylene block copolymer for example comprises between 60-95-wt% of p-isobutylene based on the total weight of the block copolymer. Preferably between 70-85 wt% of p-isobutylene based on the total weight of the blockcopolymer. The block copolymers are polymerised by cationic living polymerisation. Styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or SIBS are commercially available for example from Kaneka under the trademark SIBSTAR®.
The styrene-isoprene block copolymers for example comprise polystyrene blocks and polyisoprene or vinyl-polyisoprene blocks. It is also possible that the polyisoprene or vinyl-polyisoprene blocks are hydrogenated. Preferably the styrene-isoprene block copolymers are tri-block copolymers. Those tri-block copolymers are commercially available from for example Kuraray Co. under the tradename Hybrar™.
The styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers may for example further comprise a polyolefin and/or a styrene based thermoplastic elastomer. It is thus possible that the SIBS block copolymers or styrene- isoprene block copolymers comprise both a polyolefin and a styrene based thermoplastic elastomer.
The polyolefin may be chosen from polyolefin homopolymers, polyolefin copolymers or a polyolefin composition. Examples of homopolymers are polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene. Examples of polyolefin copolymers are for example ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers in which the alpha-olefin comprises between 3-10 C-atoms. Examples of ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers are ethylene- vinylacetate, ethylene-vinyl alcohol, ethylene-propylene copolymers or ethylene- butylenes copolymers. The ethylene-propylene copolymers may for example comprise between 75-95-wt% of propylene based on the total weight of the ethylene-propylene copolymers.
Examples of the polyolefin composition are polyolefin compositions comprising 20-50 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and 50-80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100. More preferably, the polyolefin compositions comprise between 20 and 40 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and between 60 and 80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100.
The crystalline polyolefin is preferably selected from a polypropylene homopolymer or an ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer. Preferably, the alpha-olefin is selected from the group comprising propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene and 4- methyl-1-pentene. Among these, propylene and 1-butene are preferred.
The elastomer is preferably selected from the copolymers of ethylene with alpha. -olefins CH2 =CHR in which R is alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. More preferably, the alpha. -olefin is propylene or butene. The content by weight of units derived from ethylene is preferably between 40 and 70%, more preferably between 50 and 70% most preferable between 60 and 70%. The content by weight of units derived from alpha. -olefins is preferably between 30 and 60%, more preferably between 30 and 50%, most preferably between 30 and 40%. Particularly preferred are the copolymers, which contain 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably 1 to 10%, of units derived from a polyene. Such a polyene can be selected from the group comprising trans-1 ,4- hexadiene, cis-1 ,4-hexadiene, 6-methyl-1 ,5-heptadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-1 ,6-octadiene and 11-methyl-1 ,10-dodecadiene; monocyclic diolefins such as, for example, cis-1 , 5- cyclooctadiene and 5-methyl-1 ,5-cyclooctadiene; bicyclic diolefins such as, for example, 4,5,8,9-tetrahydroindene and 6- and/or 7-methyl-4,5,8,9-tetrahydroindene; alkenyl- or alkylidene-norbomenes such as, for example, 5-ethylidene-2-norbomene, 5- isopropylidene-2-norbomene and exo-5-isopropenyl-2-norbornene; polycyclic diolefins such as, for example, dicyclopentadiene, tricyclo[6.2.1.02,7 ]4,9-undecadiene and the 4-methyl derivative thereof, 1 ,4-hexadiene, isoprene, 1 ,3-butadiene, 1 ,5-hexadiene, 1 ,6-heptadiene and so on. Among these, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene is preferred.
The elastomer can advantageously be prepared by polymerising mixtures of ethylene, alpha-olefin and, if appropriate, polyene in the presence of a catalytic system comprising for example a metallocene catalyst and an alumoxane.
The polyolefin compositions can be prepared by directly in the reactor by means of sequential polymerization. The compositions obtained according to this technique in fact show better elastomeric properties than those of the compositions obtained by simple mechanical mixing. These polyolefine compositions, also known as reactor TPO's, are commercially available for example under the tradename Hifax®.
The use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers and a polyolefin composition comprising 20-50 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and 50-80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100, as infill material is preferred. The use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers with an ethylene-alpha-olefin as infill material is even more preferred. The styrene based thermoplastic elastomers are for example block copolymers or terpolymers having one or two terminal polymeric blocks of for example polystyrene or poly-alpha-methylstyrene, and at least one non-terminal block of an elastomeric polymer, for example polybutadiene or polyisoprene. Typical examples of such block copolymers are those of general form polystyrene-polybutadiene- polystyrene (SBS), polystyrene-poly(ethylene/propylene) (SEP), poly-alpha- methylstyrene-polybutadiene-poly-alpha-methylstyrene, polystyrene-ethylene- propylene-polystyrene (SEPS), polystyrene-poly(ethylene/butylenes)-polystyrene (SEBS), polystyrene-poly(ethylene/ethylene/propylene)-b-polystyrene (SEEPS), or crosslinkable styrenic block copolymers produced by Kuraray Co., Ltd under the trade name Septon V. These styrene block copolymers are commercially available from Kraton Polymers LLC under the trademark KRATON and from Kuraray Co., Ltd under the trade name Septon. Preferably polystyrene-poly(ethylene/butylenes)-polystyrene (SEBS) or polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene (SBS) is used as styrene based thermoplastic elastomer. The use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene- isoprene block copolymers and SBS or SEBS as infill material is preferred.
The content styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene- isoprene block copolymers, polyolefin and/or styrene based thermoplastic elastomer may be chosen in that way that the hardness of the total composition varies between 40-90 Shore A. Preferably the Shore A hardness varies between 50-70. Also in case that the styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers comprise a polyolefin and a styrene based thermoplastic elastomer the content of the styrene-isobutylene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, the polyolefin and the styrene based thermoplastic elastomer is to be chosen in such a way that the hardness of the total composition varies between 40-90 Shore A. Preferably the Shore A hardness varies between 50-70.
The styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers may optionally comprise customary additives. Examples of such additives are reinforcing and non-reinforcing fillers, plasticizers, antioxidants, stabilizers, oil, antistatic agents, waxes, foaming agents, pigments, flame retardants and other known agents and are described in the Rubber World Magazine Blue Book, and in Gaether et al., Plastics Additives Handbook (Hanser 1990). Examples of suitable fillers are calcium carbonate, clay, silica, talc, titanium dioxide, and carbon.
Examples of suitable oils are paraffinic oil or naphthenic oil obtained from petroleum fractions. As paraffinic oil for example Sunpar ™ oil can be used. Also highly hydrogenated oil in which the concentration of aromatic compounds is preferably less than 4 wt.% and the concentration of polar compounds is less than 0.3 wt.% can be used. An example of such oil is PennzUltra™ 1199, supplied by Pennzoil in the United States of America.
The infill material according to the present invention is preferably used as a granulate having a shape defined on the Krumbein scale with a sphericity in the range of 0.7-0.9 combined with a roundness of at least 0.7 and a length/diameter (L/D) ratio between 0.8-1.2 whereby the granules have a uniform particle size.
The styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers optionally in combination with a polyolefin and/or styrene based thermoplastic elastomer as set out above are useful as infill material in soccer fields, hockey fields, rugby fields or tennis fields.
The present invention further relates to a composition of a styrene- isobutylene block or styrene-isoprene block copolymer, a polyolefin and/or styrene based thermoplastic elastomer. The polyolefin is described above. Preferred is a composition comprising styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers and an ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer or a polyolefin composition comprising 20-50 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and 50-80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100. The styrene-isobutylene block copolymer is preferably SIBSTAR®. The styrene-isoprene block copolymers is preferably Hybrar® These compositions provide a soft touch feel due to low hardness values, good gas barrier properties, durability against heat and weathering and excellent vibration damping properties. More preferred is a composition comprising styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers, an ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer or a polyolefin composition comprising 20-50 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and 50-80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100 and SBS or SEBS.
The present invention also relates to a composition comprising a styrene-isobutylene block copolymer or styrene-isoprene block copolymer and SBS or SEBS. These compositions show improved oil absorption. The compositions are preferably used in hockey fields, rugby fields or tennis fields.
The invention will be illustrated by the following examples without being restricted thereto.
Ball rebound is determined by an iron ball, which is dropped from a fixed height, and it was observed how many time the ball was height rebounding on a 6 mm injection moulded plaque.
Energy restitution is determined according to FIFA Quality Concept Handbook for test methods for football turf, March, 2006 Appendix A 4 "determination of dynamic response-new testing apparatus", paragraph A 4.6.2. Example 1
A granulate of a compound comprising SIBSTARR 102 T, a polyolefin, filler, oil, UV stabilizer and pigment was used as infill material in an artificial turf system. The ball rebound was measured and compared to Terra XPSR, which is a thermoplastic elastomer comprising SEBS, a polyolefin, filler, oil, UV stabilizer and pigment and which is commercially available from DSM. The ball rebound was classified from 0-5: The results are shown in table 1. From table 1 it is clear that the use of the SIBSTARR 102T compound results in a reduction of height rebound of approx of 20-30% and total 2 rebounds if compared with Terra XPSR.
Example 2 A granulate of a compound comprising HYBRARR 2, a polyolefin, filler, oil, UV stabilizer and pigment was used as infill material in an artificial turf system, the ball rebound was measured and compared to Terra XPSR.
The results are shown in table 1.
From table 1 it is clear that the use of the compound comprising HYBRARR 2 results in a reduction of height rebound of approx of 20-30% and total 2 rebounds if compared with Terra XPSR.
Table 1
Figure imgf000008_0001
Iron ball rebound classified from 0-5: • 0 is equivalent to standard product,
• 1 small reduction in height rebound and reduction of the number of rebounds,
• 3 reduction of height rebound approx of 20/30% and total 2 rebounds
• 5 no rebounds.

Claims

1. Use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers as infill material in artificial turf systems.
2. Use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers according to claim 1 characterised in that the styrene-isobutylene block copolymers comprise 70- 85-wt% p-isobutylene based on the total weight of the styrene-isobutylene block copolymer.
3. Use of styrene-isoprene block copolymers according to claim 1 characterised in that the styrene-isoprene block co polymers is a triblock copolymer which comprises polystyrene blocks and polyisoprene or vinyl-polyisoprene blocks.
4. Use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block polymers according to any one of the claims 1-3 characterized in that the styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block polymers further comprise a polyolefin and/or a styrene based thermoplastic elastomer.
5. Use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block polymers according to claim 4 characterised in that the content styrene- isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block polymers and polyolefin and/or styrene based thermoplastic elastomer is chosen in that way that the hardness varies between 40 and 90 Shore A.
6. Use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block polymers according to any one of claims 4 or 5 characterized in that the polyolefin is an ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer.
7. Use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block polymers according to any one of claims 4 or 5 characterized in that the styrene based thermoplastic elastomer is SBS or SEBS.
8. Use of styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block polymers according to any one of claims 4 or 5 characterized in that the polyolefin is a polyolefin composition comprising 20-50parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and 50-80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100.
9. Composition comprising a styrene-isobutylene block copolymer or styrene- isoprene block polymers, a polyolefin and/or a styrene based thermoplastic elastomer.
10. Composition according to claim 9 characterized in that the polyolefin is chosen from an ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer or a polyolefin composition comprising 20-50 parts by weight of a crystalline polyolefin and 50-80 parts by weight of an elastomer whereby the total parts by weight is 100.
11. Composition according to any one of claims 9 or 10 characterized in that the styrene based thermoplastic elastomer is chosen from SBS or SEBS.
12. Use of the composition according to any one of the claims 9-11 in soccer fields, hockey fields, rugby fields or tennis fields.
13. Use of the styrene-isobutylene block copolymers or styrene-isoprene block copolymers according to any one of the claims 1-8 as infill material in soccer fields, hockey fields, rugby fields or tennis fields.
PCT/EP2006/006070 2005-06-24 2006-06-23 Styrene block copolymers as infill material in artificial turf systems Ceased WO2006136436A1 (en)

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EP4063450A1 (en) * 2021-03-24 2022-09-28 Alvac, S.A. New material for infill manufacturing in artificial turf systems

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WO2021194799A1 (en) * 2020-03-26 2021-09-30 Celanese International Corporation Infill for an artificial turf system
EP4063450A1 (en) * 2021-03-24 2022-09-28 Alvac, S.A. New material for infill manufacturing in artificial turf systems
WO2022200481A1 (en) * 2021-03-24 2022-09-29 Alvac, S.A. New material for infill manufacturing in artificial turf systems

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