Artificial turf is a surface of synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass.
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2. INTRODUCTION
Artificial turf is a surfacing material used to imitate grass.
It is generally used in areas where grass cannot grow, or in areas where
grass maintenance is impossible or undesired.
It is used mainly in sports stadiums and arenas, but can also be found
on playgrounds and in other spaces.
It has been manufactured since the early 1960s, and was originally
produced by Chemstrand Company
It is produced using manufacturing processes similar to those used in
the carpet industry.
The newest synthetic turf products have been chemically treated to be
resistant to ultraviolet rays, and the materials have been improved to
be more wear-resistant, less abrasive, and, for some applications, more
similar to natural grass.
3. Profile
Most synthetic turf systems installed today include a drainage
layer, a multi-layered backing system, and resilient "grass" blades
that are infilled with a granular filler to resemble natural turf.
"Infilled" means that the man-made grass blades are interspersed
with a top soil created with sand and/or granulated recycled tire
rubber or other infill materials that provide the necessary stability,
uniformity, and resiliency.
Each blade customarily stands above the infill material. The
typical blade length and system characteristics are determined by
the specific activity requirements.
In some applications, the synthetic turf system includes a pad or
elastic layer underneath the turf, often in combination with lower
pile height and less infill.
4.
5. Raw Materials
The quality of the raw materials is crucial to the performance of turf systems. Almost
anything used as a carpet backing has been used for the backing material, from jute
to plastic to polyester. High quality artificial turf uses polyester tire cord for the
backing.
The fibers that make up the blades of "grass" are made of nylon or polypropylene
and can be manufactured in different ways. The nylon blades can be produced in thin
sheets that are cut into strips or extruded through moulds to produce fibers with a
round or oval cross-section. The extruded product results in blades that feel and act
more like biological grass.
Cushioning systems are made from rubber compounds or from polyester foam.
Rubber tires are sometimes used in the composition of the rubber base, and some of
the materials used in backing can come from plastic or rubber recycling programs.
The thread used to sew the pads together and also the top fabric panels has to meet
the same criteria of strength, colour retention, and durability as the rest of the system.
Care and experience must also be applied to the selection of the adhesives used to
bond all the components together
6. Infill Materials
Crumb Rubber:it is derived from scrap car and truck tires that are ground up and
recycled. Two types of crumb rubber infill exist: Ambient and Cryogenic. Together
these make up the most widely used infill in the synthetic sports field and landscape
market.
Coated Rubber Infill:Both ambient and cryogenic rubber can be coated with
colorants, sealers, or anti-microbial substances if desired. Coated rubber provides
additional aesthetic appeal, reduction of dust by products during the manufacturing
process and complete encapsulation of the rubber particle.
EPDM Infill:EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a polymer elastomer
with high resistance to abrasion and wear and will not change its solid form under
high temperatures. Typical EPDM colours are green and tan. EPDM has proven its
durability as an infill product in all types of climates. Its excellent elasticity
properties and resistance to atmospheric and chemical agents
Organic Infill:There are several organic infills available in the North American
market, all utilizing different organic components, such as natural cork and/or ground
fibers from the outside shell of the coconut. These products can be utilized in
professional sports applications as well as for landscaping. At the end of its life cycle
it can be recycled directly into the environment.
7. •Sand (Silica) Infill:;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 colour 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.
•Coated Silica Sand Infill: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.
•TPE Infill:Thermo plastic elastomer (TPE) infill is non-toxic, heavy
metal free, available in a variety of colours that resist fading, very long
lasting, and 100% recyclable and reusable as infill when the field is
replaced. TPE infill, when utilizing virgin-based resins, will offer
consistent performance and excellent g-max over a wide temperature
8. Manufacturing Process
The "grass" part of a turf system is made with the same tufting techniques used in the
manufacture of carpets.
1. The first step is to blend the proprietary ingredients together in a hopper. Dyes and
chemicals are added to give the turf its traditional green color and to protect it from
the ultraviolet rays from the sun.
2. After the batch has been thoroughly blended, it is fed into a large steel mixer. The
batch is automatically mixed until it has a thick, taffy-like consistency.
3. The thickened liquid is then fed into an extruder, and exits in a long, thin strand of
material.
4. The strands are placed on a carding machine and spun into a loose rope. The loose
ropes are pulled, straightened, and woven into yarn. The nylon yarn is then wound
onto large spools.
5. The yarn is then heated to set the twisted shaped.
9. 6. Next, the yarn is taken to a tufting machine. The yarn is put on a bar with skewers (a
reel) behind the tufting machine. It is then fed through a tube leading to the tufting needle.
The needle pierces the primary backing of the turf and pushes the yarn into the loop. A
looper, or flat hook, seizes and release the loop of nylon while the needle pulls back up; the
backing is shifted forward and the needle once more pierces the backing further on. This
process is carried out by several hundred needles, and several hundred rows of stitches are
carried out per minute. The nylon yarn is now a carpet of artificial turf.
7. The artificial turf carpet is now rolled under a dispenser that spreads a coating of latex
onto the underside of the turf. At the same time, a strong secondary backing is also coated
with latex. Both of these are then rolled onto a marriage roller, which forms them into a
sandwich and seals them together.
8. The artificial turf is then placed under heat lamps to cure the latex.
9. The turf is fed through a machine that clips off any tufts that rise above its uniform
surface.
10. Then the turf is rolled into large v/lengths and packaged. The rolls are then shipped to
the wholesaler.
10. Installation
Artificial turf installation and maintenance is as important as its
construction.
1. The base of the installation, which is either concrete or compacted soil,
must be levelled by a bulldozer and then smoothed by a steam roller.
Uneven surfaces will still be evident once the turf is applied.
2. For outdoor applications, intricate drainage systems must be installed,
since the underlying surface can absorb little, if any, rainwater.
11.
12. 3. Turf systems can be either filled or unfilled. A filled system is
designed so that once it is installed, a material such as crumbled cork,
rubber pellets, or sand (or a mixture) is spread over the turf and raked
down in between the fibers. The material helps support the blades of
fiber, and also provides a surface with some give, that feels more like
the soil under a natural grass surface. Filled systems have some
limitations, however. Filling material like cork may break down or the
filling material can become contaminated with dirt and become
compacted. In either case the blades are no longer supported.
Maintenance may require removing and replacing all of the fill.
13. Comparison
A synthetic turf field usually has a higher upfront cost, but the field often pays
for itself over 3-4 years, proving to be a highly cost-effective investment.
Synthetic turf fields are typically utilized for about 3,000 hours of play per
year, with no "rest” required, the equivalent of three to four well-maintained
natural turf fields. In addition, synthetic turf maintenance costs are two to
three times less than natural turf, since no mowing, irrigation or chemicals are
needed. Because of its consistent availability, a synthetic turf field is also a
reliable source of rental revenue for schools and communities.
According to Cory Jenner, a landscape architecture professional in Syracuse,
N.Y., the cost of installing and maintaining a synthetic turf sports field over a
20-year period (including one replacement field) is over three times less
expensive per event than the cost of a grass field over the same period of
time. This is because many more events can be held on a synthetic turf sports
field. "Financially speaking, artificial turf is more cost-effective over time,”
Jenner said. This cost per event advantage is validated by other authorities
and field owners.
Synthetic turf has ability to hold up under very heavy use. While natural turf
shouldn’t be played on during or immediately after a rain storm, after the
application of pesticides and fertilizers, or during the months when grass
doesn’t grow, synthetic turf is always ready for play. Regular maintenance is
important to enable synthetic turf to withstand the heavy use that it is often
14. The demerits of older turfs can be prevented by taking correct
measures as:
1.Test turf that has fibers that are abraded, faded or broken,
contains visible dust, and that is made from nylon or nylon-blend
fibers.
2.If the dust contains more than 400 ppm lead, do not allow turf
access to children under the age of 6 years.
3.After playing on the field, individuals are encouraged to
perform aggressive hand and body washing for at least 20
seconds using soap and warm water.
4. Eating while on the field or turf product is discouraged.
15. CONCLUSION
An Introduction to Artificial Turf (Synthetic Grass) Artificial turf is the material used
in making artificial grass. Artificial grass is often seen in playgrounds and parks. It is
a recent trend to have artificial grass in lawns and outdoor spaces. It is a replacement
to natural grass. The reason why turf is used is that it is easy to maintain. Natural
grass grows fast and needs regular chopping and maintenance. Apart from this,
artificial turf always looks fresh and has no effect of the changing seasons. They do
not need to be watered like natural grass in order to remain new and fresh.
Artificial turf is an excellent option in places where it is not possible to have natural
grass growth. This is why more people are choosing an artificial turf over natural
grass. Artificial turf consists of synthetic fibers. Artificial turf first gained importance
in the 1960s. Since then its popularity and liking has increased among people. Today,
artificial turfs offer sand and recycled rubber. In many sports like football, baseball
and field hockey we see the use of artificial turf in the stadium. These grass
substitutes also have some downsides. These include: use of petroleum, limited life
and toxic as components. Artificial turf continues to grow in its use with many
people trying it as a substitute to natural grass.