10/01/2008
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Domotex 2008: Dow Europe presents at Domotex 2008 Artificial Turf Solutions
Integrated portfolio of materials and technologies for high performance artificial turf systems
Improving the Game in Artificial Turf
Technology is improving the quality of artificial playing surfaces, turning around perceptions of artificial turf among professional sports people, regulatory bodies, and the wider public. Today's advanced artificial turf systems are the first choice for many professional sports venues around the world.
At Domotex 2008 the company finds the way to present its latest new to the world.
With its complementary and closely integrated portfolio of materials and technologies, Dow has emerged as a key player. Today, the company is a leading raw material supplier of chemicals and plastics for artificial turf components that are at the heart of some of the most effective systems on the market and that have been an important factor in achieving artificial turf's recent success.
Dedicated Team for Tailored Components
Getting quality components working together is the secret for maximising artificial turf performance. This demands expertise in all the polymer materials that make up its constituent parts in order to guarantee optimal playing characteristics similar to natural grass.
To help customers create long-lasting and high quality performance artificial turf systems, Dow has combined the expertise of four of its specialist units, Base Plastics, Specialty Plastics & Elastomers, Polyurethane (PU) Systems and Latex, to create an artificial turf team with skills developed from Dow's wealth of experience in the polymer market and 10 years' experience of producing specialist resins.
Integrated Product Solutions
Dow's specialist turf team will advise and support you in creating tailored-made solutions for long-lasting and high performance artificial turf systems, offering compatible combinations of raw materials for yarn, infill, backing, and shock absorption, whether you require playing surfaces for football, golf, rugby, hockey, or a town's recreation ground.
Dow's solutions for Yarn
Technical advancements in raw materials and types of yarn have helped to create softer, safer and higher quality playing surfaces.
Dow's yarn grade polyethylene resins (PE), such as DOWLEX(tm) PE and ELITE(tm) Enhanced PE, are particularly suited to create fibers that provide the right combination of softness, resilience, and mechanical toughness. The result is a product suitable for play at a professional level, one where players can safely slide, tackle and fall without nasty abrasions and that guarantees a durable, consistent playing surface.
Because of its superior mechanical properties, weatherability and yarn resilience, turf yarn made using these resins is suitable for use at the highest level of professional sports.
Additionally, Dow's polyolefin plastomer, AFFINITY(tm), offers yarn producers another resin option in order to obtain a desired combination of mechanical properties, processing ability, and product performance for grass yarn.
Dow's solutions for Infill
The infill granules provide stability for the yarn and contribute to the energy absorption and ball surface interaction properties of the turf surface. A multitude of infill options based on Dow polymer technologies are commercially available, ranging from thermoplastic, thermoplastic vulcanizates to coating solutions in order to ensure the right balance of performance properties.
Dow's polyolefin elastomer materials are the natural choice for infill in an artificial grass system that needs to perform like real turf. The materials provide a sustainable solution, using prime raw materials that are recyclable and strike a balance between price and performance.
Infill made from Dow polyolefin elastomers provides performance characteristics which offer a good alternative to grinded SBR, including:
- Good energy absorption
- Excellent ultraviolet (UV) stability
- Wear resistance
- Odorless and dust free environment for the players
- Colorability
Whatever product solution you are looking for, Dow's products are designed to complement each other. Dow's elastomers can be combined with other materials as part of the infill material formulation to ensure the right characteristics for the desired application.
Dow products for infill include AFFNITY™ Polyolefin Plastomers and ENGAGE™ Polyolefin Elastomers.
Dow's solutions for Backing
Artificial turf has specific and stringent requirements for its backing. Dow's polyurethane and latex backing solutions for artificial turf offer safety, comfort and durability on the field.
Dow's SB latex backing solutions for artificial turf offer help to improve tuft bind, flexibility, water resistance, and dimensional stability that extend the durability and appearance of the pitch; while creating a highly stable and predictable playing surface. The end result is artificial turf that gives the players the necessary safety and support. DL552 functional SB latex binder is recognized as an industry leader in the area of artificial turf backings.
Dow polyurethane backings from Dow increase tuft strength and improve product's overall performance. ENFORCER™Sport and ENHANCER™ Sport polyurethane systems provide a range of benefits for artificial turf, including:
- Stable, uniform playing field
- Improved durability
- Strong tuft bind even when wet
- Appearance retention
- Aggressive wear and tear
- Minimized distortion and shrinkage
- Attached cushion for added shock absorption and performance
Dow sells fully formulated polyurethane systems to artificial turf producers throughout Europe. Our polyurethane systems can be tailored to address individual customer needs and come ready to use (no blending is necessary on site).
Dow's solutions for Shock absorption
Polyurethane binders and polyolefin solutions are central to Dow's shock absorption materials. These materials can be blended and adjusted to provide the right amount of give to address the specific needs of the players. Dow products for shock absorption include ENHANCER™ Sport Polyurethane Systems and VORAMER™ Polyurethane Binders.
About Dow and Artificial Turf Solutions
Dow's Artificial Turf Solutions offer a broad range of complementary raw materials for artificial turf components. Yarn, infill, backing and shock absorption components are individually tailored to the needs of each system by combining the expertise of Dow's specialist business units, Base Plastics, Specialty Plastics & Elastomers, PU Systems and Latex.
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