What Is the Function of Rubber Pellets in Synthetic Turf?

Synthetic turf fields are a common sight nowadays in sports fields, community parks, and playgrounds.

There are several components to these fields: the synthetic fibers meant to replicate blades of grass, the backing material the fibers are connected to, and the base material, or infill, that stabilizes the fibers and ensures they remain upright. A variety of infill materials are available on the market, but the most common is crumb rubber, used by over 98% of all synthetic turf sports fields in the world.

Here’s a closer look at this essential component of a quality artificial turf field: crumb rubber, the small black rubber pellets you find mixed into the synthetic grass.

Crumb Rubber

Crumb rubber is a material made from grinding up used tires. It is a recycling process that repurposes an estimated 30 million used tires each year, providing an environment-friendly use for tires that would otherwise sit in a landfill.

All the steel and fiber components are removed during the recycling process, and the resulting rubber pellets are sorted by size. The recommended sizes for use on synthetic turf range from one-sixteenth to one-quarter of an inch in diameter.

Quality Fields

It remains true that crumb rubber is an important component in quality artificial turf. One of the biggest advantages artificial turf has over natural grass is its safety in regards to preventing injuries — the rubber infill helps tremendously in cushioning the impact of players hitting the ground.  

Additionally, an artificial turf field is more durable and resilient than grass, allowing hours of heavy play year-round, no matter the weather conditions. The cost of maintenance is also significantly lower than a grass field, and in the event that the fibers wear down or the infill levels run low, an artificial turf maintenance service is merely a click away.

If you are looking to experience the benefits of an artificial turf field, contact  Keystone Sports Construction today to experience our excellent services and build the best turf field for your facility.