Silica and coated silica sand infills: Pure silica sand is one of the original infilling materials utilized in synthetic turf. This product is a natural infill that is non-toxic, chemically stable and fracture resistant. Silica sand infills are typically tan, off-tan or white in color and – depending upon plant location – may be round or sub-round in particle shape. As a natural product there is no possibility of heavy metals, and the dust/turbidity rating is less than 100. It can be used in conjunction with many other infills on the market to provide a safe and more realistic playing surface. The round shape plays an integral part in the synthetic turf system. It is important that silica sand have a high purity (greater than 90%) to resist crushing and absorption of bacteria and other field contaminants. Silica sand can either be coated with different materials as a standalone product or can be used to firm up in combination with traditional crumb rubber infill systems. Coated Silica Sand. This class of infill consists of coated, high-purity silica sand with either a soft or rigid coating specifically engineered for synthetic turf. These coatings are either elastomeric or acrylic in nature (non-toxic) and form a bond with the sand grain sealing it from bacteria to provide superior performance and durability over the life of a field. Coated sand is available in various sizes to meet the application’s needs. Depending on the amount and type of infill, coated sands can either be used with or without a pad and are available in various colors. All of the coatings are non-toxic and are bonded to the quartz grain for superior performance and durability over the life of your field. These materials are typically used as a homogenous infill which provides both ballast and shock absorbing qualities to a synthetic turf application.
A petrochemical-based fiber invented in 1938. There are two basic types of nylon: Type 6,6 nylon and Type 6 nylon. Nylon is the dominant fiber choice for commercial carpet use due to its wear characteristics.
Sprinklers and irrigation systems can be used for cooling and control of static electricity and dust in synthetic turf systems.
During the installation process, Edge anchoring is installed at the perimeter of the field to attach to the synthetic turf, anchor it, and transition to whatever abuts the field, such as a running track. The anchor may consist of a concrete curb, a treated wood nailer, a composite material or a trench drain. These may vary by design and region, but should always provide a secure anchor.
Resisting the tendency to produce annoying static electric shocks in situations where friction of the foot tread builds up static in low-humidity conditions.
An additive to the turf surface that kills microbes. Can be effective on bacteria and/or fungi. Can be applied topically or embedded in fiber or infill.
The force that is required to pull a tufted blade out of the backing
Textured yarn used with different colors that is situated below the face yarn to enhance recovery. TigerTurf features brown & green thatch colors for a more naturalistic appearance!
The process of transforming liquid plastic into individual solid fibers by pushing the liquid plastic through a fixed cross-sectional profile that is designed to form each individual blade of turf. For example: A turf can be extruded with a ‘W’ shaped profile
The distance between stitch rows. Depending on the product’s weight, a ½ inch gauge or less is optimal
A unit of linear mass density of fibers
(See also ‘Slip Resistance’) Measures of a finished surface related to sufficient grip underfoot to accelerate and decelerate, adequate slip to turn, etc. Sub-base A secondary layer of bound or unbound fill placed on the subgrade to influence the engineering and playing characteristics of the whole construction. Is in addition to the base course, added where the sub-grade conditions are inconsistent.
(See also ‘Traction’) Measures of a finished surface related to sufficient grip underfoot to accelerate and decelerate, adequate slip to turn, etc. Sub-base A secondary layer of bound or unbound fill placed on the subgrade to influence the engineering and playing characteristics of the whole construction. Is in addition to the base course, added where the sub-grade conditions are inconsistent.
The prepared surface of the natural ground onto which the base pavement and carpet system are laid. Provides the ultimate support and sometimes the required surface profile to the base. The strength and stability of the sub-grade are particularly critical for pitches/fields/courts/greens built over filled sites.
Material used to support, separate, filter. Used to strengthen compacted ground, provide a filter barrier around drains, etc.
Comprises of the layers beneath the shock pad and carpet – the asphalt, base, sub-base and sub-grade.
The act of compressing the surface materials to reduce air content, decrease percolation and increase density and hence surface stability. Also refers to the common observation on sand in filled carpets over time where maintenance/rejuvenation of the sand layer is not carried out effectively – making the surface hard and unforgiving.
Either bound or unbound, placed on the sub-grade/sub-base to influence the engineering and playing characteristics of the whole construction. Provides the camber for the pitch and therefore the surface drainage characteristics.
The resistance of a material to a load applied in tension (as opposed to compression).
The capability of the turf to bounce back to its original characteristics after being used. How well a turf can handle high traffic or compressive force is determined by several factors; resilience of fibres and yarn materials, denier (dtex) and infill system of the turf system.
Primary Backing: The material into, or onto, which the yarn is attached to form the carpet. Secondary Backing: The material used to coat the back of the carpet after the yarn has been attached to the primary backing.
A binder (used in shockpads also) used as a secondary backing on synthetic grass materials. Applied as a viscous coating, the polyurethane is sprayed across the surface to help lock-in fibre stitches and increase the horizontal stability of the synthetic grass materials. The secondary backing process is one of the last in the link of steps to producing finished synthetic grass.
Synthetic, thermoplastic polymer used for moulded items, sheets, films and fibres. The polymer is made by stereo-specific polymerization of propylene. Most polypropylene turf fibres are solution dyed and sometimes contain ultraviolet stabilisers for outdoor use. The turf fibre is available as both bulked continuous filament yarns and staples for spun yarn production. Slit-film polypropylene is used on woven turf backing.
Polyethylene or polythene or polymethylene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons. Its primary use is in packaging (notably the plastic shopping bag).
The full depth of tufts or loops of yarn that form the carpet. Pile Crush: Loss of pile thickness by compression (matting) and bending of tufts caused by high traffic or heavy weight. Grooming turf surfaces will often lift the pile back to original height. All turf will crush to some degree during its lifespan. Pile Density: Determined by multiplying the number of tufts per unit area by the unit weight of each tuft. Pile Length: The length of the extended tufts measured from the primary backing top surface to their tips. Pile tuft should be gently extended but not stretched during this measurement.
The ability of a material to allow water to pass through. Determined by percolation (infiltration) tests.
Perforations define the holes drilled or heat punched into the backing of some synthetic turf materials. The perforations provide a passage for surface water flow through the impermeable carpet backing into the structure beneath.
Yarn can be crimped (twisted) so that it does not end up leaning one way and therefore influencing the direction of a moving ball.
Carpet where the fibre in the pile forms both the pile structure and the majority of the backing cloth. The fibres are needled into a flat primary cloth, then secondary needled to pull through/angle the fibre to a felt-like structure of the desired quality/configuration of pile.
Latex is a natural product used as a secondary backing material to lock stitches in place and provide additional dimensional stability.
A single, continuous strand of synthetic fibre.
Fibre Material: Yarn fibres can be manufactured from various natural and synthetic materials. Synthetic grasses and artificial turf are typically made from one or a combination of two or more of the following fibre materials; nylon, polypropylene or polyethylene. Fibre Shape/Size: The cross-sectional area and shape of individual ribbons of fibre vary considerably from product-to-product. The unit of measurement for the weight of the fibre is dtex (1 dtex = gram weight per 1 metre of yarn, using a 10,000 metre average). The shape of the fibres can vary from fibrillated flat ribbon yarns to highly-varied shapes of monofilament yarns. The quantity of yarn used to form the pile will have a significant effect on the cost, performance and durability of the carpet. This is measured as face weight. It will also have a significant impact on the stability of the infill medium in a carpet, and the ‘crushability’ (or fibre resilience) of new ‘shaped’ fibres. Fibre Width: The width of the fibre is measured across its face and can affect the colour, shine, vertical recovery and durability of the fibres under extreme conditions; especially in field applications.
Refers to the weight of the yarn that is visible above the carpet backing (refer to Section 1.4 for calculation formula).
Also known as the nap or the pile of the surfaces of turf. It describes the total visible surface of the finished turf materials.
Materials used under and throughout the construction of a synthetic grass project. Woven and non-woven, commercial-grade materials provide additional horizontal and vertical stability to the installation.
Refers to the ability of the finished turf surfaces to retain their original size and shape, and resist lateral movement caused by cyclic temperature changes or movement pressure (participants/ traffic).
Loss of physical property or performance. The ‘weaking out’ or weakening of a system or substance, i.e. ‘The effectiveness of UV protection, the strength of fibres, backing and the porosity of a surface might degrade during the life of the turf.’
Manufactured from a polymer yarn, artificial grass carpets are either tufted or needle-punched. Third generation carpets are almost always ‘tufted’ carpets. With tufted carpets the pile is formed by looping yarn through a backing material and cutting it to the required length (usually between 35mm and 65mm). The underside of the backing material is coated with latex or polyurethane, which helps hold the tufts in place and provides structural stability to the carpet. Holes are pierced through the backing to assist with drainage where vertical drainage is desired. Carpets can vary in terms of the type of yarn used and density (stitching rate). Most carpets use a single form of yarn while some might use a mixture. The yarn is generally made from either polyethylene (PE), which is soft and less abrasive, or from polypropylene (PP), which is stronger and is often used for low impact sports such as tennis. Generally the denser the carpet, the more durable the product.
Collecting and reusing water that drains from the surface system.
A continuous strand of twisted fibres. The blades of artificial grass are referred to as ‘yarn’.
A written undertaking by the supplier and/or installer that the product will be fi t for its intended purpose for a stated time period from the date of supply or installation, and that any imperfections will be addressed during the period of time that the warranty is valid.
In synthetics, the basic chemical unit from which fibres are made. It is made of large complex molecules (polymer chains) formed by uniting simple molecules (monomers).
The typical period of time that the item lasts before requiring replacement. Quality turf is normally stamped with a 20+ year lifespan.
The lifecycle cost of a surface consists of three different costs:
The formal agreement entered into by an artificial grass manufacturer and a sport’s governing body concerning the conditions under which approval of artificial grass products for that sport specifically may be granted.
An artificial grass manufacturer who has entered a licensing agreement with a sport’s governing body or other organization. Can sometimes include a supplier who is the partner in a licensing agreement but does not manufacture artificial grass.
The application of water to an artificial grass carpet is sometimes done for hockey (to aid ball traction and player sliding) and lawn bowls (green playing speed).
Horizontal stability is the ability of the sub-base, base and turf systems to work together to keep the installation from stretching, shrinking or collapsing. Horizontal stability is engineered into the project by the selection of the site, base materials, edging, trim elements, base construction, and drainage and final grade. Horizontal stability in a synthetic grass material refers to the stability of the primary and secondary backing materials to keep the synthetic grass surfaces from stretching, shrinking or buckling over time.
Most synthetic turf surfaces radiate temperature at approximately 1.8 times ambient temperature whereas natural turf radiates at 1.3 times ambient temperature.
Pitches using a carpet of woven, tufted or knitted synthetic yarn in which the density of the pile is sufficient to maintain yarn vertically without support or stabilisation by other materials. Usually 10- 13mm pile height. May be stitched seams, or usually fully adhered to the shock pad beneath, and usually needs to be wet to achieve playability.
Seaming tapes or backing are materials used under the edges of two pieces of synthetic grass which will be used as a part of a seaming system to attach the two pieces of synthetic grass together.
Horizontal (left to right and reversed) and vertical (up to down and reversed) stability is important to a synthetic grass installation. Turf materials, their backings, the base and sub-base construction of the job all relate to standards of horizontal and vertical stability. A project’s sub-base and base construction should maximise horizontal stability to carry weight load. Synthetic grass primary and secondary backing materials aid the turf system’s surface materials by: providing additional horizontal stability and providing the required stability needed to suit the project objectives. To achieve vertical stability, synthetic turf systems are helped by the use of infill materials to stand blades upright and provide resilience and cushion underfoot.
If required, a shock-absorbing layer is placed over the base, directly under the carpet. It is used to provide a degree of comfort to players underfoot, but also to reduce peak forces for head impacts, and to create defined playing characteristics for specific sports. The two main installation methods of shock pads are: A shock pad will signifi cantly increase the cost of installing a synthetic surface but may last for several surface replacements (two to three surfaces – 20 years).
(See also ‘dimensional stability’) Synthetic grass surface materials, like most woven products, can shrink or shift under certain conditions. Where temperature variances can change from extreme cold to extreme heat, synthetic grass surfaces can expand and contract. A minor amount of shrink can also occur on surfaces as they age. Shifting of turf surfaces is more often noticed and can be misidentified as shrink.
The line formed where two pieces of turf are joined. The action of setting the turf and seaming using one or more methods; adhesives, sewing or tacks.
SBR is manufactured from recycled tyres and other rubber products. It has been used as a major component in turf infill systems, resurfacing of sports activity areas, parks, field and track surfaces, horse tracks and a variety of other coatings and formed rubber products such as mats, bumpers and flooring products for restaurants, day-care centres and the hospitality industry.
Used as a shock-absorption layer within the carpet, to help the carpet fibres to maintain an upright position, and as a contributor to the desired surface playing characteristics (bounce, traction, etc).
(see also called ‘Crumbed Rubber’) Rubber materials that have been processed into small grains of rubber for use in a variety of finished goods including synthetic grass infill materials.
Pitches using a carpet of woven, tufted or knitted synthetic yarn fully supported or stabilised by the addition of filling material (eg. sand and/or rubber granules). Generally loose laid, not stuck to the layers below (except at the seams).
(also called ‘Crush Recovery’)
Crush recovery describes the ability of the synthetic grass fibres to rebound back upright after being walked on, or after having dead weight from furniture (such as moveable goal posts) or other elements. To encourage good recovery, all synthetic grass surfaces made for lawn and landscaping will benefit from some amount of infill materials that provide horizontal and vertical stability as well as UV protection for blades and backing.
(also called ‘Fibre Resilience’)
Crush recovery describes the ability of the synthetic grass fibres to rebound back upright after being walked on, or after having dead weight from furniture (such as moveable goal posts) or other elements. To encourage good recovery, all synthetic grass surfaces made for lawn and landscaping will benefit from some amount of infill materials that provide horizontal and vertical stability as well as UV protection for blades and backing.
Granules of new or recycled rubber materials used for infill or for top dressing on synthetic grass materials. Granules are specified as either new or recycled rubber, and are sized by the smallest and largest average radius of the granules contained in the packaging. Size of granules used will depend upon the application; golf putting green surfaces require smaller grain size than larger field areas.
Typical range is 0.5 – 2.5mm.
Key stages of a project at which point works should cease, allowing inspection/sign-off of the stage of work just undertaken.
The processing of yarn, by heat or air pressure, to fix a wavy texture into the yarn and increase its apparent bulk.
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