Alabama Patent of the Month – September 2022
Artificial turf, which is designed to replicate grass, has become increasingly popular as it does not need to be watered to be maintained and can withstand high traffic without wearing down as quickly as regular grass. Traditionally, these turfs are designed with infills to prevent the grass from “matting” and to maintain this natural grass-like appearance. Unfortunately, the infills have been known to leach toxic chemicals into the water table, are unable to neutralize ammonia, and may even produce dust. If the infill is organic in nature – such as a nut material – this dust could trigger allergic reactions.
Calcean Minerals and Materials, LLC (Calcean) is focused on the creation of sustainably-minded solutions. With this goal in mind, they have identified Oolitic Aragonite sand as a potential solution for numerous industries – including artificial turf infills. This biogenically renewable mineral is sourced from the Bahamas and engineered into high performance calcium carbonate products. Through years of R&D, the company has found their product effectively reduces carbon footprints and improves carbon sequestration without sacrificing performance.
It’s through this research that Calcean has determined the microporous nature of their oolitic aragonite mineral could provide an improved infill solution. The microporosity and weight of the material resists compaction and provides thermal control. This means the product would maintain durability and a sufficient lifespan regardless of weather conditions. By combining the infill with a reactive calcium, ammonia could be effectively neutralized and filtered through the microporous surface. The mineral offers a dust-free, silica-free, sustainable solution that ensures artificial turf can remain as convenient as ever.
Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.
Who We Are:
Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.
Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.
