History Of Synthetic Turf

Today, synthetic turf is commonly used on athletic fields, but it’s changed dramatically and in many ways (e.g., surface design and maintenance) since it first originated over 50 years ago. Therefore what we have today is significantly different from what it was like when it was originally introduced. The History of Synthetic Turf There have been many changes to artificial turf as it “grew up” and matured into what we have today. These different changes are what’s commonly referred to as “generations.” First Generation In 1966 the Houston Texas Astrodome was the first major sporting venue to install artificial turf. At that time, it was a dense nylon carpet composed of short fiber that was installed over the top of a soil base that was compacted. The following year a cushion made from a closed-cell, elastomeric foam was installed between the carpet backing and the soil. Eventually, this product that was created by ChemGrass began being referred to as AstroTurf. During the 1970s and 1980s, AstroTurf was installed in several […] Continue reading