Seeking 100% natural materials that are suitable to be used as infill for artificial turf sports fields
Specific Technical InnovationProject Size Range : 50,000 - 250,000 €
Innovation Need
Seeking 100% natural materials that are suitable to be used as infill for artificial turf sports fields
- Anonymous Organization
- From United States
- Responsive
- Project Size Range : 50,000 - 250,000 €
- Posted by
Desired outcome
We are looking for an abundant supply of a 100% natural material where the material is able to be granulated into small granules (typically between 1-3mm) and installed in an artificial turf carpet without compromising the performance of the system as a whole. The granulation of the material can be looked at as a separate step as the focus of this call is to identify suitable post-industrial waste stream materials.
Description/Background
Infill materials are small granules (typically 1-3mm but can vary) that are installed within the polyethylene grass fiber blades of the artificial turf carpet – these infill materials provide stability/cushion for the athlete to play and fall on. The most commonly used infill material is SBR rubber however there is a segment of the market that desires 100% natural infill materials. Some of the natural materials that are used today as infill include but are not limited to coconut husk and cork.
Key Success Criteria
A minimum of ~3 million pounds of material availability annually. The material cannot prematurely degrade in an outdoor setting for ~10 years – no rotting or decay and no excessive splintering under mechanical wear.
Possible Approaches
Post-Industrial Plant-Based materials excluding nut-based products
MUST HAVES
Strong Resistance to Rot, Mold, Decay - and splintering under mechanical wear. Minimum of ~3 million pounds of material availability annually.
NICE TO HAVES
Sourced in North America or South America. Non-buoyant material, high resistance to compressive loads, provides some shock absorbency
Related Keywords
About Us
Manufacturer of artificial turf in the sports construction industry. As an industry-leader, we’re actively investing in innovation and product improvement to deliver value for our clients. We specialize in a variety of sports applications and offer a comprehensive portfolio of solutions.
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