Together with partners from the worlds of sport, politics and the economy, Aalen University of Applied Sciences and the institutions of higher education in Furtwangen and Pforzheim are pursuing a new research project that aims to reintegrate highly weathered used plastics into the circular economy, or "RewitAl" for short. Environmentally friendly processes, procedures are to be developed for artificial turf surfaces, which are widely used in Germany, that ensure complete recycling of the various plastics while minimizing the discharge of microplastics. In addition, holistic strategies for a sustainable circular economy will be assessed, taking ecological and economic aspects into account.
The focus of the new project is on the previously neglected but quantitatively significant plastics used in urban sports facilities. Artificial turf can be found in place of natural turf at a wide variety of sports venues, such as soccer and rugby pitches as well as field hockey and tennis courts. Due to its robustness, it can be played on intensively and is easy to maintain. After 12 to 15 years at the latest, however, artificial turf pitches are largely worn out. In addition to playing conditions, weather influences such as sunlight, precipitation and temperature changes are the main contributing factors. The materials used change their properties, which has a negative impact on playability. In addition, the older the artificial turf gets, the more microplastics form.
This wear needs to be analyzed, especially as the ageing of the plastic affects its recyclability. Various recycling methods are therefore being investigated and industrially feasible processes, procedures are being developed. To this end, not only the visible turf fibers are being examined, but also the plastic granules in between and the elastic layers underneath, which ensure a playing experience similar to that of natural turf. The aim is to find bio-based or recycled alternatives to replace the materials used to date. The working group at the Research Institute for Innovative Surfaces (FINO) led by Professor Dr. Katharina Weber is focusing on chemical recycling in the project, in particular the pyrolysis of elastomer components. The team is also analyzing the chemical properties of recyclates, pyrolysis oils and alternative plastics.