Submersible turf reinforcement mats

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of submersible turf reinforcement mats that may include polymer and one or more additives. For example, calcium carbonate, zinc sulfide, barium sulfate, and/or other additives may be mixed or blended with the polymer such that the overall density is high enough to cause the submersible turf reinforcement mat to sink in water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A submersible turf reinforcement mat comprising polymer and one or more additives having a specific gravity greater than one and greater than the polymer, whereby an overall density of the submersible turf reinforcement mat is greater than water such that the submersible turf reinforcement mat sinks in water. 
     
     
         2 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one or more of polypropylene, polyethylene, and/or polymer having a specific gravity less than 1. 
     
     
         3 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more additives comprise calcium carbonate, zinc sulfide, and/or barium sulfate. 
     
     
         4 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein a weight percentage of the one or more additives compared to a total weight of a mixture of the polymer and the one or more additives is within a range from about 0.1% to about 99%. 
     
     
         5 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more additives comprise calcium carbonate in an amount such that a weight percentage of the calcium carbonate is within a range from about 17% to about 40% compared to a total weight of a mixture of the polymer and the calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         6 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 5 , wherein a specific gravity of the mixture of the polymer and the calcium carbonate falls within a range from about 1.015 to about 1.228 where the specific gravity is determined by a ratio of the density of the mixture of the polymer and the calcium carbonate to the density of water at 4 degrees Celsius or 39 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         7 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more additives comprise calcium carbonate in an amount such that a weight percentage of the calcium carbonate is about 20% compared to a total weight of a mixture of the polymer and the calcium carbonate; and   the specific gravity of the mixture of the polymer and the calcium carbonate is about 1.039 as determined by the ratio of the 1.039 g/cm 3  density of the mixture of the polymer and the calcium carbonate to the 1.0 g/cm 3  density of water at 4 degrees Celsius or 39 degrees Fahrenheit.   
     
     
         8 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more additives comprise zinc sulfide in an amount such that a weight percentage of the zinc sulfide is within a range from about 14% to about 30% compared to a total weight of a mixture of the polymer and the zinc sulfide. 
     
     
         9 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 8 , wherein a specific gravity of the mixture of the polymer and the zinc sulfide falls within a range from about 1.01 to about 1.175 where the specific gravity is determined by the ratio of the density of the mixture of the polymer and the zinc sulfide to the density of water at 4 degrees Celsius or 39 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         10 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more additives comprise zinc sulfide in an amount such that a weight percentage of the zinc sulfide is about 15% compared to a total weight of a mixture of the polymer and the zinc sulfide; and   a specific gravity of the mixture of the polymer and the zinc sulfide is about 1.019 as determined by the ratio of the 1.039 g/cm 3  density of the mixture of the polymer and the zinc sulfide to the 1.0 g/cm 3  density of water at 4 degrees Celsius or 39 degrees Fahrenheit.   
     
     
         11 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more additives comprise barium sulfate in an amount such that a weight percentage of the barium sulfate is within a range from about 14% to about 25% compared to a total weight of a mixture of the polymer and the barium sulfate. 
     
     
         12 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 11 , wherein a specific gravity of the mixture of the polymer and the barium sulfate falls within a range from about 1.014 to about 1.125 where the specific gravity is determined by the ratio of the density of the mixture of the polymer and the barium sulfate to the density of water at 4 degrees Celsius or 39 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         13 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more additives comprise barium sulfate in an amount such that a weight percentage of the barium sulfate is about 14% compared to a total weight of a mixture of the polymer and the barium sulfate; and   the specific gravity of the mixture of the polymer and the barium sulfate is about 1.014 as determined by the ratio of the 1.014 g/cm 3  density of the mixture of the polymer and the barium sulfate to the 1.0 g/cm 3  density of water at 4 degrees Celsius or 39 degrees Fahrenheit.   
     
     
         14 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the submersible turf reinforcement mat comprises one or more spun, monofilament, and/or multifilament yarns made from a mixture of the polymer and one or additives. 
     
     
         15 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the submersible turf reinforcement mat comprises one or more warp and/or weft yarns made from a mixture of the polymer and one or additives. 
     
     
         16 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the submersible turf reinforcement mat comprises weft yarns and warp yarns interwoven with the weft yarns, wherein either or both of the warp yarns and weft yarns are made from a mixture of the polymer and one or additives. 
     
     
         17 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the submersible turf reinforcement mat comprises monofilament strands that are made from a mixture of the polymer and one or additives and that create an open mat. 
     
     
         18 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the submersible turf reinforcement mat comprises a netting or grid that is made from a mixture of the polymer and one or additives and that is layered or attached together with fibrous layers to form a three dimensional structure. 
     
     
         19 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the submersible turf reinforcement mat has a three-dimensional, pyramidal, honeycomb, or cuspated profile shape. 
     
     
         20 . The submersible turf reinforcement mat of  claim 1 , wherein the submersible turf reinforcement mat includes warp and weft yarns having heat shrinkage characteristics such that when heated, the submersible turf reinforcement mat has a three-dimensional, pyramidal, honeycomb, or cuspated profile shape.