Artificial turf is a manufactured product that looks like grass. Athletic stadiums and recreation departments use it as a playing surface for indoor and outdoor activities. Artificial turf is also used in landscaping, patios, highway medians, and doormats.
The surface of artificial turf consists of tough nylon fibers or similar material woven into a base pad of the same material like a household carpet. The base pad is glued to a rubber pad about 1-inch (2.5-centimeters) thick. The rubber pad is glued to a foundation consisting of a layer of asphalt about 5 inches (12.5 centimeters) thick that covers a layer of gravel or other porous material about 18 inches (46 centimeters) thick. Modern foundations have special drainage systems that prevent water from accumulating on the playing surface.
Unlike grass, artificial turf does not require costly care and is not damaged by hard use in sports. Its surface stays smooth and even, and weather does not affect it. Artificial turf also has some disadvantages. The hard asphalt beneath the surface causes balls to bounce higher and with more speed than they do on grass. Some athletes and doctors believe that the additional traction and the hard subsurface cause knee injuries. Athletes complain that the turf scrapes their skin when they fall or slide on it. The turf also becomes very hot in warm weather because the asphalt absorbs heat.
Manufacturers have developed many varieties of artificial turf since it first came into use in the early 1960’s. One type, which has a flat surface, is used for tennis courts, horse race tracks, and running tracks. Manufacturers are working to develop new types that have simpler, less expensive foundations.
