Domestic technical textiles Industry Segment-wise consumption of ...

Artificial turf
Artificial turf, or synthetic turf, is a man-made surface manufactured from synthetic materials with
appearance similar to natural grass. It is used for making world-class surfaces for playing sports
(especially hockey and soccer) which are normally played on grass. The hockey stadiums account for
most of the consumption of the artificial turf in India. It is also used indoors or outdoors for
landscaping.
Artificial turf is considered a safe alternative to natural grass; turf has no direct harmful effects to pets
or children. Several studies have shown that the artificial turfs have a higher injury rate than grass on
playgrounds. The new manufacturing and installation procedures have resulted in lowering of injury
rates than on natural grass.
Product characteristics
The artificial turf system consists of various layers - the pile fibers & backing cloth, shock absorbing
layer and the supporting base.
• Pile Fiber - The grass like piles are non abrasive and soft to touch. The synthetic grass is
made of either the polyamide nylon/nylon 6.6 or PP/PE, which is custom extruded into a
monofilament ribbon form. The pile fiber has to allow for smooth ball roll and bounce,
support non-directional foot traction, allow for water permeability and should have the correct
balance of strength, elasticity and stiffness to withstand the wear and tear of regular usage.
• Backing Fabric - the material to which surface fibers are attached to form the underside of
the artificial turf surface. The backing has to permit water to flow through the fabric readily.
• Shock-Absorbing Foam - provides cushioning for running or falling athletes. The foam is
made of a closed-cell polymer alloy like polyurethane, typically 1/2 inch in height and
perforated for vertical drainage
• Supporting Base - supports the load placed on the entire structure, typically a 2-feet or 3-feet
layer of asphalt or concrete
Installation and maintenance are very crucial for the performance of Artificial Turf. For ground
installations, a good quality sub-base is very important. The turf suppliers provide these services
themselves. Turf generally lasts at least a decade and requires no mowing, watering or fertilisation.
The pile fibers are knitted directly into the backing using flat-bed Raschel knitting machines which
are between 4.5 m to 5 m wide to form a mechanically strong and stable structure. The sewing threads
which are used are high-strength, weather resistant and pigmented to exactly match the colour of the
turf.