What’s that stuff?What’s that stuff?Synthetic GrassSynthetic Grass

By: Ajee’ ShorterBy: Ajee’ Shorter

What’s the chemical make –What’s the chemical make –up of the synthetic grass up of the synthetic grass and the process used to and the process used to make it?make it? The chemistry for producing The chemistry for producing

synthetic grass is synthetic grass is straightforward, like that of its straightforward, like that of its floor-covering cousin. It floor-covering cousin. It begins with a polymer—either begins with a polymer—either nylon, polyethylene, or nylon, polyethylene, or polypropylene—which is polypropylene—which is melted at a high temperature, melted at a high temperature, mixed with pigments and mixed with pigments and ultraviolet stabilizers to ultraviolet stabilizers to protect it from the sun's rays, protect it from the sun's rays, and then extruded into thin and then extruded into thin ribbons of grass-like ribbons of grass-like dimensions. dimensions.

    How do the chemicals come How do the chemicals come together to make what we see together to make what we see as normal everyday stuff?as normal everyday stuff?

The type of polymer used depends on the application as well as cost The type of polymer used depends on the application as well as cost considerations. Polypropylene is the cheapest option. Nylon offers more considerations. Polypropylene is the cheapest option. Nylon offers more strength and resiliency than polyethylene and polypropylene, but it is the strength and resiliency than polyethylene and polypropylene, but it is the most expensive. Nylon also has a higher melting point than polyethylene most expensive. Nylon also has a higher melting point than polyethylene and polypropylene, which makes the manufacturing process more difficult. and polypropylene, which makes the manufacturing process more difficult.

After the ribbons are formed, they are tufted, like carpet yarns, into a fabric After the ribbons are formed, they are tufted, like carpet yarns, into a fabric backing, such as a woven polypropylene, and then attached with an backing, such as a woven polypropylene, and then attached with an adhesive such as polyurethane. During installation, some contractors place adhesive such as polyurethane. During installation, some contractors place foam padding underneath the backing to provide cushioning. foam padding underneath the backing to provide cushioning.

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The history of synthetic grass and what The history of synthetic grass and what advances have been made over the advances have been made over the

years to improve what we have today?years to improve what we have today? HistoryHistory Artificial turf was first developed in the 1960s in Artificial turf was first developed in the 1960s in

North Carolina, at the Research Triangle Park. North Carolina, at the Research Triangle Park. This research led to the introduction of This research led to the introduction of Astroturf, the brand name for the first widely Astroturf, the brand name for the first widely used type of artificial turf. Astroturf came into used type of artificial turf. Astroturf came into greater recognition when it was used as the greater recognition when it was used as the playing surface in the Houston Astrodome, playing surface in the Houston Astrodome, which was completed in 1965. The success of which was completed in 1965. The success of the Astrodome led to more brands of artificial the Astrodome led to more brands of artificial turf and wider use. The success of artificial turf and wider use. The success of artificial turf also led to more indoor stadiums, in which turf also led to more indoor stadiums, in which natural grass playing fields was impractical.natural grass playing fields was impractical.An improvement in artificial turf came in the An improvement in artificial turf came in the late 1990s via Field Turf, which uses a mixture late 1990s via Field Turf, which uses a mixture of smooth rounded silica and cryogenically of smooth rounded silica and cryogenically frozen and smashed rubber particles. It's frozen and smashed rubber particles. It's supposedly more like real grass and has more supposedly more like real grass and has more "give," which can reduce injuries. The "give," which can reduce injuries. The University of Nebraska was the first Division I-University of Nebraska was the first Division I-A football team to use it, in 1999. It was A football team to use it, in 1999. It was introduced in Major League Baseball and the introduced in Major League Baseball and the National Football League the following year. National Football League the following year.

   

AdvancesAdvances Although fields constructed with artificial turf are Although fields constructed with artificial turf are

much easier to maintain than natural grass fields, much easier to maintain than natural grass fields, there are other considerations. Fields constructed there are other considerations. Fields constructed with artificial turf are more likely to result in with artificial turf are more likely to result in injuries for players--especially "turf toe" injuries--injuries for players--especially "turf toe" injuries--because of the harder surface underneath. Field because of the harder surface underneath. Field Turf has improved this situation.Turf has improved this situation.Also, some sports purists believe that sporting Also, some sports purists believe that sporting events should be played in the elements, which events should be played in the elements, which should have an effect on the playing surface. should have an effect on the playing surface. Many of football's greatest games were played in Many of football's greatest games were played in muddy fields, which would not happen with muddy fields, which would not happen with artificial turf. However, the advantages to the fans artificial turf. However, the advantages to the fans of watching events in enclosed stadiums are also of watching events in enclosed stadiums are also strong considerations strong considerations

    How does the existence, How does the existence, discovery, or development of discovery, or development of

synthetic grass affect our lives?synthetic grass affect our lives? Cushioning underneath the earliest synthetic Cushioning underneath the earliest synthetic

grass installations was primarily polyvinyl grass installations was primarily polyvinyl chloride foam, but it provided little protection chloride foam, but it provided little protection for players. The late 1990s saw the for players. The late 1990s saw the development of a crumb rubber infill, development of a crumb rubber infill, sometimes combined with sand. After the sometimes combined with sand. After the fake grass is installed onto a field, infill is fake grass is installed onto a field, infill is mixed into the grass to keep the individual mixed into the grass to keep the individual blades from falling over and to give the blades from falling over and to give the surface some bounce.surface some bounce.

The new cushioning gives rise to a potential The new cushioning gives rise to a potential problem. The rubber in the infill comes from problem. The rubber in the infill comes from recycled tires and may leach harmful recycled tires and may leach harmful chemicals into the soil, says Junfeng (Jim) chemicals into the soil, says Junfeng (Jim) Zhang, a professor of environmental and Zhang, a professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of occupational health at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. "We Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. "We really do not know much about the health really do not know much about the health risks," of synthetic grass, he adds. risks," of synthetic grass, he adds.

As for the original 1960s-era Astroturf, Wright As for the original 1960s-era Astroturf, Wright says he brought home some of the scraps says he brought home some of the scraps that didn't get used in the Astrodome and that didn't get used in the Astrodome and had it installed not on the outside, but on the had it installed not on the outside, but on the inside of his home at the time—as wall-to-inside of his home at the time—as wall-to-wall carpet. wall carpet.

ResourcesResources

fakefakegrassgrass.blogtides.com/.blogtides.com/ www.eoearth.org/article/www.eoearth.org/article/SyntheticSynthetic_turf~_health_debate_turf~_health_debate

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