Cooling infill for synthetic turf applications

Abstract

A composition for synthetic turf infill that allows a surface of the synthetic infill to remain cool when compared to a comparative synthetic turf having an infill comprising crumbed rubber. The composition comprises a polyvinyl chloride, a plasticizer, a reflective pigment, a blowing agent, and a filler having a specific gravity greater than 2.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising:
 a polyvinyl chloride resin;   a plasticizer;   a reflective pigment;   a blowing agent; and   a filler having a specific graving of greater than 2,   wherein a sheet formed from the composition has a low Shore A hardness when tested using a Shore A durometer,   wherein a pelletized form of the composition has a specific gravity greater than 1, and   wherein the composition has a melting point greater than 200° F.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a sheet formed from the composition has exhibits a Shore A hardness of between about 50 A and 100 A when tested using a Shore A durometer. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is derived from a naturally occurring source. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is derived from corn or soy oil. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective pigment is an infrared reflective pigment. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective pigment comprises titanium dioxide. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the filler has a specific gravity greater than 3. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the filler has a specific gravity between 3 and 4. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises barium sulfate. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises calcium sulfate. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a melting temperature greater than about 300° F. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein pellets formed from the composition comprise from about 10 wt. % to about 40 wt. % air or trapped gases. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein pellets formed from the composition have a size up to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is infill for an artificial turf field. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is disposed as an infill for an artificial turf field and wherein the infill maintains the artificial turf field at a temperature that is about 15° F. to about 25° F. less than the temperature of a comparative artificial turf under substantially similar ambient and environmental conditions, wherein a comparative infill of the comparative artificial turf consists essentially of crumbed rubber infill. 
     
     
         16 . An infill formed from a composition, the composition comprising:
 from about 40 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of a polyvinyl chloride resin;   from about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of a plasticizer;   from about 2 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of a reflective pigment;   from about 0.01 wt. % to about 0.1 wt. % of a blowing agent; and   from about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of a filler, wherein the filler has a specific gravity of greater than 2,   wherein a sheet formed from the composition has a Shore A hardness between 50 A and 100 A when tested using a Shore A durometer,   wherein the composition has a melting point greater than 200° F., and   wherein the infill comprises the composition in pellet form and wherein the pellet form of the infill comprising the composition exhibit a specific gravity greater than 1.   
     
     
         17 . The infill of  claim 16 , wherein the infill is disposed throughout an artificial turf field and maintains the temperature of the artificial turf field at a temperature about 15° F. to about 25° F. less than a temperature of a comparative artificial turf under substantially similar ambient and environmental conditions, wherein a comparative infill of the comparative artificial turf consists essentially of crumbed rubber infill. 
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a composition comprising:
 combining:   from about 40 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of a polyvinyl chloride resin;   from about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of a plasticizer;   from about 2 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of a reflective pigment;   from about 0.01 wt. % to about 0.1 wt. % of a blowing agent; and   from about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of a filler, wherein the filler has a specific gravity between 2 and 4,   at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a blended composition,   wherein a sheet formed from the blended composition has a Shore A hardness between 50 A and 100 A when tested using a Shore A durometer,   wherein a pelletized form of blended composition has a specific gravity greater than 1, and   wherein the blended composition has a melting point greater than 200° F.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming pellets from the blended composition where the pellets have a size up to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the combining is performed in an extruder.