Artificial grass recycling including backing

Artificial grass yarns are often secured with a binder such as Styrene Butadiene (SBR) or Polyurethane (PUR). However, these binders have negative properties for artificial grass recycling.

Intercol works extensively with VAE polymers and has made compounds from these suitable for artificial grass. Depending on requirements, various compounds can be made, filled or unfilled.

UAE polymers

VAE polymers are thermoplastic and tolerant to most synthetic yarns in mechanical recycling, moreover, VAE polymers do not crosslink (crosslinking variants are available). It is precisely the non-crosslinking that makes the polymers thermoplastic (important for mechanical recycling) as well as soluble (an advantage when separating the various components, such as yarns, backings and fillers).

The benefits at a glance:

• Compatible with many thermoplastics such as PP and PE and therefore do not interfere with the mechanical recycling flow
• Soluble in water or solvents, allowing components of artificial turf to be separated at end-of-life
• For use in existing production processes set up for SB/PU