{"id":8934,"date":"2024-10-11T12:58:26","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T10:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tfi-aachen.de\/projekt\/bioturf-innovative-sustainable-artificial-turf-systems-made-from-bio-based-polymers\/"},"modified":"2024-10-11T15:49:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T13:49:47","slug":"bioturf-innovative-sustainable-artificial-turf-systems-made-from-bio-based-polymers","status":"publish","type":"projekt","link":"https:\/\/tfi-aachen.de\/en\/project\/bioturf-innovative-sustainable-artificial-turf-systems-made-from-bio-based-polymers\/","title":{"rendered":"BioTurf – Innovative sustainable artificial turf systems made from bio-based polymers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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Project<\/h2>\n
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BioTurf – Innovative sustainable artificial turf systems made from bio-based polymers<\/h1>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n
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The aim of the \u2018BioTurf\u2019 project was to develop an artificial turf structure made from bio-polyethylene (PE) as polymer raw material. The mono-material structure creates the possibility of high-quality material recycling with a view to a closed-loop recycling economy. Current artificial turf pitches consist of a mixture of different types of plastic that are bonded together using latex or polyurethane adhesives. They cannot be separated or recycled and must therefore be thermally utilised (incinerated). In addition, a plastic granulate currently protects the pile yarn, which must be replenished annually in order to fulfil its function. By using a second yarn structure, BioTurf does not require the addition of infill granules and thus minimises the entry of microplastics into the environment (currently approx. 500 kg per square and year). After thermobonding, the BioTurf concept also includes a backing layer using a bio-based PE film made from up to 100% recycled artificial turf to bind the pile yarns into the backing. Both processes replace the coating with latex or PU and guarantee pile pull-out forces > 50 N, which is required for use in football. The final environmental assessment of the production process focussed on the impact analysis in comparison to the petroleum-based benchmark product. The impact assessment establishes a link between the life cycle inventory data and the potential environmental impacts. To this end, the results of the life cycle inventory are assigned to various impact categories according to scientifically based criteria. In this case, the impact categories analysed correspond to the requirements of DIN EN 15804 (Sustainability of construction works – Environmental product declarations – Basic rules for the product category of construction products, 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The development of the BioTurf artificial turf showed in the industrial implementation by the partner MET that the replacement of petroleum-based raw materials with bio-based raw materials can be realised without any problems, as the polymer structures of both plastics are very similar. The bio-based polymers were spun into film tapes and the process for weaving the backing fabric was adapted. By modifying the yarn parameters (e.g. smooth or crimped), it was possible to produce a high-quality pile structure that makes granulate filling superfluous. The thermobonding process was used to fix the pile yarns in the backing layer without latex or polyurethane. This required high-precision temperature and process control to melt the dead pile while maintaining the fabric structure of the backing. The backing consists of an experimentally determined, optimised composition of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) in warp and weft yarns and is stabilised on the back by a recycled film made from recycled old artificial turfs. This means that the system remains fully recyclable, as all materials belong to the same polymer group. In terms of the ecological balance, it turned out that replacing the petroleum-based with bio-based pile material can result in both ecological advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are largely in the area of the impact indicators \u2018greenhouse gas potential\u2019, \u2018potential for the depletion of abiotic resources for fossil resources\u2019 and \u2018non-renewable energy consumption\u2019. In other environmental areas, however, such as \u2018eutrophication\u2019 or \u2018acidification\u2019, there may be greater impacts. This is usually due to the cultivation and processing of the renewable raw materials. In this respect, the choice of source material and its cultivation is of great importance when considering sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BioTurf Soccer Box at the RWTH Aachen University Sports Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Funding program and project number<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Bioeconomy Innovation Spaces, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) \nInnovation space: BIOTEXFUTURE \nBMBF 031B1213A BioTurf<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Duration<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

01.12.2021 – 30.11.2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nPrint<\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Project partners and\/or other research institutes<\/h3>\n
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