US 12,247,327 B2
Method of delaying and reducing texture reversion of a textured artificial turf yarn
Stephan Sick, Willich-Neersen (DE); Dirk Sander, Kerken (DE); Bernd Jansen, Nettetal (DE); Ivo Lohr, Kempen (DE); and Kris Brown, Dalton, GA (US)
Assigned to Polytex Sportbeläge Produktions-GmbH, Grefrath (DE)
Filed by Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH, Grefrath (DE)
Filed on Apr. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/298,616.
Application 18/298,616 is a continuation of application No. 16/651,689, granted, now 11,655,566, previously published as PCT/EP2018/077193, filed on Oct. 5, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/643,428, filed on Mar. 15, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 17195136 (EP), filed on Oct. 6, 2017; application No. 17202272 (EP), filed on Nov. 17, 2017; and application No. 18185033 (EP), filed on Jul. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0243072 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 33/02 (2006.01); B29C 33/04 (2006.01); B29C 33/06 (2006.01); C08J 3/22 (2006.01); D01D 1/04 (2006.01); D01D 5/12 (2006.01); D01D 5/22 (2006.01); D01D 5/36 (2006.01); D01F 1/04 (2006.01); D01F 1/07 (2006.01); D01F 1/10 (2006.01); D01F 8/04 (2006.01); D01F 8/06 (2006.01); D01F 8/12 (2006.01); D01F 8/14 (2006.01); D01F 8/16 (2006.01); D02G 1/12 (2006.01); D02G 1/16 (2006.01); D02J 1/22 (2006.01); E01C 13/08 (2006.01)
CPC D02G 1/165 (2013.01) [D01F 1/106 (2013.01); D01F 8/06 (2013.01); D01F 8/12 (2013.01); D01F 8/14 (2013.01); D01F 8/16 (2013.01); D02G 1/12 (2013.01); D02G 1/161 (2013.01); D02G 1/167 (2013.01); E01C 13/08 (2013.01); D10B 2505/18 (2013.01); D10B 2505/202 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of delaying and reducing texture reversion of a textured artificial turf yarn, the method comprising:
providing a monofilament yarn comprising a polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture is at least a three-phase system, wherein the polymer mixture comprises a first polymer, a second polymer, and a compatibilizer, wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are immiscible, wherein the first polymer forms polymer beads surrounded by the compatibilizer within the second polymer;
stretching the monofilament yarn to elongate the polymer beads to increase a volume of a crystalline fraction in the polymer mixture, and to form the monofilament yarn into a stretched monofilament yarn; and
texturing the stretched monofilament yarn to form the textured and stretched monofilament yarn,
wherein the elongating of the polymer beads and the increasing of the volume of a crystalline fraction delay and reduce the texture reversion of the textured and stretched monofilament yarn, and
wherein the texturing of the stretched monofilament yarn includes performing a gas-dynamic texturing process such that a portion of the crystalline fraction of the polymer mixture is in a solid state and another portion of the crystalline fraction of the polymer mixture is in a molten state.