The History of Artificial Turf

Artificial turf is manufactured through synthetic fibers as the primary material made to be similar to natural grass. The main reason why an artificial turf is made is because of its easy maintenance. It doesn’t require irrigation and trimming to heavy uses such as in sports fields and crowded parks. Other areas that are domed and covered like stadiums or amphitheaters may require artificial grass which doesn’t need enough sunlight unlike the real one.

History

The artificial grass was introduced in 1960’s when it was first used in a covered sports stadium in the USA to create a functional sports-playing field. The artificial grass was called Astroturf that was named after the Astrodome in Houston, Texas where it was first installed.

In early 1970’s, the use of Astroturf and other similar artificial grass became known in USA and Canada. They were installed in both indoor and outdoor stadiums used for sports such as baseball and football.

On the other hand, putting green is a type of artificial grass that is mostly used in golf courses where the flag stick and hole are located. Putting greens in the middle 1800’s were simply shorter grass that was trimmed smoothly. During this era, lawnmowers had not been invented yet. Putting greens were not made or planted with specific grass for golf. They were carefully selected in order to get the right distance from the tee box as the ground offered a natural shape to provide an appropriate grass surface for putting. When the lawnmower was invented, this all changed as the greenskeepers began to shape the putting green in the surrounding area of the golf courses.

Materials

Artificial turf was made of three types of materials with different features, functions, and performances. Each material has their own attributes and characteristics that might better than others depending on the application needs.

Nylon

In 1960’s, the synthetic fiber used for artificial turf was made from nylon that was best for heavy use such as baseball. It was known for its strength; resilience and was expected to have higher resistance percentage that could even stay longer even though there would be players constantly stepping the turf. However, nylon tend to cause burns when it came in contact with skin. This commonly happened to baseball players when they had to slide into the base.

Artificial turf made from nylon was more expensive than the other types that could be a great return of investment. Since it lasted longer and could be resistant from heavy use for years, there was no need to replace the old turf to buy a new one.

Polypropylene

A new type of synthetic fiber used for artificial turf was introduced in 1980’s. It was made from polypropylene yarn with sand infill and was cheaper than nylon. This type of material is appropriate for tennis and hockey to make the ball be able to bounce and roll due to the sand infill that was used to stabilize the playing field. The downside of having sand infill was it could cause skin injury for players who had to make a sliding contact with the grass. Therefore, this surface was not suitable for football.

Polyethylene

The third raw material used for artificial grass in sports-playing field was polyethylene. This was developed for sports such as soccer, football, and rugby. The only difference of polyethylene from the previous material introduced in 1980’s was that players could make skin contact with the grass without skin burning. This was mainly because of the use of polyethylene and an infill consist of granulated rubber.

Artificial turf is great for decorative use in interior and exterior design. It is durable, long-lasting, and easy to maintain that can now be found and used in many applications such as sports field, landscaping, commercial spaces, and residential lawns. Aside from outdoor applications, artificial turf can also be used in interior design. Just like natural grass, it adds outdoor-like atmosphere and fresh-looking environment to any spaces.

If you are looking for artificial turf you can use for your indoor and outdoor needs, check out the selection of our artificial grass for sale at Luxdezine. Our outgoing staff and installers are always ready to help out and answer your queries regarding artificial turf. We also offer a range of services such as estimate and installations to meet your landscaping needs. Contact us today so we can help you beautify your lawns.