Astroturf has improved its Trionic fibre by adding a sanitising thermal protection as well as an anti-static component to its compound. The Trionic fibre is a blend of polyethylene and nylon in a single fibre.
The company has now added sanitised silver-based antimicrobial technology to help eliminate odours and to provide long-lasting protection. It works by eliminating bacterial odours and preventing the build-up of microbes. According to the Dalton-based company, the antimicrobial technology provides up to 99% reduction in bacteria.
The addition of DualChill will give the fibre a thermal shield which will strengthen it, allowing the fibres to be more resilient and durable over long periods. Test results done on the same fibre package, with and without DualChill, show that there is an average of up to 42% improvement in IR reflectivity, and fibre temperature is up to 12 degrees cooler.
Anti-static
A new carbon-based anti-static ingredient molecularly bound into the face fibres inhibits the build-up of static electricity. Astroturf claims a 17-times reduction in static levels when StatBlock is introduced into the synthetic turf fibres.
“We are thrilled to launch the Trionic Plus, which is the result of years of research and development,” said Rob Mitchell, AstroTurf’s vice president of business development. “This cutting-edge technology sets a new standard for fibres in the synthetic turf industry, and we are confident that it will set a new standard for safety, hygiene, and performance.”
Back to basics
The first synthetic turf fields ever developed were made of nylon. Nylon has the advantage that it is strong and resilient. However, the material is also abrasive. On the other hand, polyethylene is renowned for its soft touch.
The Astroturf Trionic was awarded the “Innovation of the Year” award in 2019 by the Synthetic Turf Council (STC).
The secret is in the compatibilisers. These compounds encase the nylon polymers, which are suspended within the PE to reinforce the fibre. These compatibilisers have an affinity with both the PE and the nylon. They are polar on the inside and non-polar on the outside. In essence, the compatibilisers bridge the gap.