Artificial turf with shielded water absorber layer

Abstract

The invention relates to an artificial turf ( 100, 200 ) that provides an infill layer including a water absorber layer ( 106 ) and a performance layer ( 104 ), where the performance layer is on top of the water absorber layer and shields the water absorber layer from sunlight, and where the water absorber layer is adapted to serve as water reservoir layer and includes a porous, water-absorbent material.

1 . An artificial turf comprising:
 an infill layer, the infill layer including:   a water absorber layer adapted to serve as water reservoir layer, the water absorber layer comprising porous, water-absorbent material; and   a performance layer, the performance layer on top of the water absorber layer and shielding the water absorber layer from sunlight.   
     
     
         2 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least 80 weight % of the water absorber layer consists of first particles having a first particle size;   wherein at least 80 weight % of the performance layer consists of second particles having a second particle size; and   wherein the second particle size is between the first particle size plus 20% of the first particle size and the first particle size minus 20% of the first particle size.   
     
     
         3 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , the water absorber layer having a height of 0.5 mm to 30 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , the water absorber layer having a weight per m 2  that is between a weight per m 2  of the performance layer plus 20% the weight of the performance layer per m 2  and the weight of the performance layer per m 2  minus 20% the weight of the performance layer per m 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , the water absorber layer comprising or consisting of particles selected from a group including:
 zeolite particles,   bentonite particles,   lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) particles,   expanded clay (ECA) particles,   calcium hydro silicate particles,   calcium silicate particles,   alumina silicate particles,   calcium carbonate particles,   sodium alumina silicate particles,   alumina magnesium silicate particles,   calcium alumina silicate particles,   aerated concrete particles, and   mixtures of two or more of the aforementioned particles.   
     
     
         6 . The artificial turf of claim  6 , wherein the particles are the zeolite particles, and the zeolite particles comprise clinoptilolite. 
     
     
         7 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , wherein the water absorber layer further comprises sand. 
     
     
         8 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , wherein the infill layer further comprises a stabilizing layer, the stabilizing layer positioned between a backing and the water absorber layer. 
     
     
         9 . The artificial turf of  claim 8 , the stabilizing layer comprising or consisting of sand. 
     
     
         10 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , the performance layer having a height of 0.5 mm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , the performance layer comprising or consisting of water-absorbent material. 
     
     
         12 . The artificial turf of  claim 11 , wherein the water-absorbent material of the performance layer comprises water-absorbing particles coated with one or more porous layers of a water-impermeable material. 
     
     
         13 . The artificial turf of  claim 12 , wherein the water-impermeable material comprises polyurethane. 
     
     
         14 . The artificial turf of  claim 11 , wherein the water-absorbent material of the performance layer is selected from a group comprising:
 plant-based fibers,   bark,   wood,   seeds, and   mixtures of two or more of the aforementioned materials.   
     
     
         15 . The artificial turf of  claim 14 , wherein the plant-based fibers comprise jute fibers and/or hemp fibers, and the bark comprises bark-based particles. 
     
     
         16 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , the performance layer being a capillary-active layer adapted to transport water from the water-absorber layer to an upper surface of the performance layer. 
     
     
         17 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , the performance layer comprising or consisting of elastic particles selected from a group including:
 cork particles;   styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) particles;   natural rubber particles;   synthetic thermoplastic elastomer particles; and   mixtures of two or more of the above-mentioned particles.   
     
     
         18 . The artificial turf of  claim 1 , the performance layer comprising or consisting of non-elastic particles selected from a group including:
 fruit stone particles or olive pit particles, or   wood particles, or   seeds, or   mixtures of two or more of the aforementioned particles.   
     
     
         19 . A method for installing an artificial turf, the method comprising:
 placing an artificial turf backing on a ground, the backing carrying artificial turf fibers;   applying a water absorber layer on top of the backing, the water absorber layer being adapted to serve as water reservoir layer and comprising or consisting of water-absorbent material; and   applying a performance infill layer on top of the water absorber layer such that performance infill layer shields the water absorber layer from sunlight.   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 the artificial turf according to  claim 1 ; and   a controller configured to send irrigation control commands, the control commands configured to trigger an irrigation of the artificial turf selectively at times when a sun intensity is below a daily maximum.