Skip to main content

Synthetic Turf (Polyolefin fibers, tufted backing)

Common Product
MasterFormat 32 18 13 Synthetic Grass Surfacing; 32 18 16 Synthetic Resilient Surfacing; 32 18 23 Athletic Surfacing; 32 18 23.29 Synthetic Field Sport Surfacing

This information reflects our best understanding of product composition in 2020.

Synthetic turf can be used as a replacement for natural grass for landscaping and athletic field surfaces. Its composition is similar to that of carpet. The artificial grass fibers are generally made from polyethylene, polypropylene, or nylon....

More about Synthetic Turf (Polyolefin fibers, tufted backing)

Synthetic turf can be used as a replacement for natural grass for landscaping and athletic field surfaces. Its composition is similar to that of carpet. The artificial grass fibers are generally made from polyethylene, polypropylene, or nylon. Depending on the application, the fibers may be single blades (monofilament) that stand up straight, slit film (extruded flat strands that are sliced to form a honeycomb-like fiber), or a combination of both types. The fibers are either woven into or tufted through a mesh fabric backing. In the tufted method, fibers are secured in place with a secondary backing, or coating. Depending on performance requirements, additional backing layers can be applied to the secondary backing, but these are beyond the scope of this Common Product (CP). The secondary backing may have holes punched into it to allow for water drainage (perforated) or it may be composed of a woven geotextile backing that is melted onto the primary backing (non-perforated). This CP covers products intended for use in athletic fields with a perforated backing. 

Additional components may be added to the turf, such as a fiberglass scrim to reduce stretching, or creep, and shock absorbing underlayments. Though not covered by this CP, each additional component has potential to introduce additional hazards. Athletic fields also have a base system composed of materials such as crushed aggregate and a drainage system. These systems will vary depending on native soil conditions and are beyond the scope of this CP. Synthetic turf typically requires the use of infill materials, which are small granules that are added on top of the backing to keep the fibers upright and provide cushioning. These are generally made from tire-derived crumb rubber, EPDM, thermoplastic elastomer, sand, zeolites, organic materials, or combinations of these materials. Although the different types of infill are beyond the scope of this CP, they are covered in other CPs. 

Synthetic turf panel seams are either glued or sewn together, or they may be attached using hook and loop fasteners. Adhesives may add additional hazards that are not covered by this CP. Likewise, this CP does not consider any treatments that are applied to the turf, which could add additional hazards. For example, optional biocide treatments are available to protect against mold, mildew, or algae. Outdoor surfaces would likely not require such a coating because exposure to sunlight would likely be sufficient to kill these microorganisms. None of the sources indicated that a stain resistant treatment was applied to the fibers, similar to the PFAS treatment typically seen in carpets, although one source sampled turf fiber and identified the presence of PFAS. PFAS can be used as an anti-stick agent in equipment used in the extrusion process for the fibers, so some residual PFAS may be present in turf fibers as a result.

Name % Weight Whole Function GREENSCREEN® Sources
Polyethylene
9002-88-4
52.12% Fiber Subscribe to view
Irgastat P
5.82% Anti-static Subscribe to view
Bumetrizole
3896-11-5
0.25% UV Stabilizer Subscribe to view
Iron, elemental
7439-89-6
0.21% Residual Subscribe to view
Zinc, elemental
7440-66-6
0.19% Residual Subscribe to view
Aluminum
7429-90-5
0.10% Residual Subscribe to view
Tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite
31570-04-4
0.08% Antioxidant Subscribe to view
Phthalocyanine Green
1328-53-6
0.04% Pigment Subscribe to view
TIN
7440-31-5
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Calcium carbonate
471-34-1
0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Lead
7439-92-1
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Manganese
7439-96-5
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Nickel
7440-02-0
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
BARIUM
7440-39-3
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Chromium
7440-47-3
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Cobalt
7440-48-4
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
DI(2-ETHYLHEXYL)PHTHALATE (DEHP) (primary CASRN)
117-81-7
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Diisononyl phthalate (DINP-1, mixture of isomers as manufactured)
68515-48-0
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Calcium carbonate
471-34-1
20.33% Filler Subscribe to view
Polyurethane Polymer
9.53% Polymer Species Subscribe to view
Silicone L-5617
1.02% Surfactant Subscribe to view
Polypropylene
9003-07-0
10.27% Polymer Species Subscribe to view
HALS-10
193098-40-7
0.02% UV Stabilizer Subscribe to view
Irganox 1010
6683-19-8
0.01% Antioxidant Subscribe to view
Name % Weight Part % Weight Whole Function GREENSCREEN® Sources
Synthetic Turf Fibers
58.82% 58.82% Fiber Subscribe to view
Polyethylene
9002-88-4
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
88.61% 52.12% Fiber Subscribe to view
Irgastat P
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
9.90% 5.82% Anti-static Subscribe to view
Bumetrizole
3896-11-5
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
0.43% 0.25% UV Stabilizer Subscribe to view
Iron, elemental
7439-89-6
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
0.35% 0.21% Residual Subscribe to view
Zinc, elemental
7440-66-6
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
0.32% 0.19% Residual Subscribe to view
Aluminum
7429-90-5
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
0.17% 0.10% Residual Subscribe to view
Tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite
31570-04-4
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
0.13% 0.08% Antioxidant Subscribe to view
Phthalocyanine Green
1328-53-6
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
0.07% 0.04% Pigment Subscribe to view
TIN
7440-31-5
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Calcium carbonate
471-34-1
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
0.01% 0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Lead
7439-92-1
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Manganese
7439-96-5
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Nickel
7440-02-0
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
BARIUM
7440-39-3
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Chromium
7440-47-3
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Cobalt
7440-48-4
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
DI(2-ETHYLHEXYL)PHTHALATE (DEHP) (primary CASRN)
117-81-7
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Diisononyl phthalate (DINP-1, mixture of isomers as manufactured)
68515-48-0
(Nested within Synthetic Turf Fibers)
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Secondary Backing in Synthetic Turf
30.88% 30.88% Coating Subscribe to view
Calcium carbonate
471-34-1
(Nested within Secondary Backing in Synthetic Turf)
65.84% 20.33% Filler Subscribe to view
Polyurethane Polymer
(Nested within Secondary Backing in Synthetic Turf)
30.86% 9.53% Polymer Species Subscribe to view
Silicone L-5617
(Nested within Secondary Backing in Synthetic Turf)
3.29% 1.02% Surfactant Subscribe to view
Primary Backing in Synthetic Turf
10.29% 10.29% Structure Component Subscribe to view
Polypropylene
9003-07-0
(Nested within Primary Backing in Synthetic Turf)
99.78% 10.27% Polymer Species Subscribe to view
HALS-10
193098-40-7
(Nested within Primary Backing in Synthetic Turf)
0.15% 0.02% UV Stabilizer Subscribe to view
Irganox 1010
6683-19-8
(Nested within Primary Backing in Synthetic Turf)
0.08% 0.01% Antioxidant Subscribe to view

Log in or create an account to view All Contents

Known or Potential Residuals

Known or Potential Residuals for Chemical
CASRN NAME GREENSCREEN® TYPE FREQUENCY % Weight Chemical % Weight Product SOURCE
Log in or create an account to view Known or Potential Residuals

Other Process Chemicals

CASRN NAME GREENSCREEN® TYPE FREQUENCY % WT CHEM % WT PRODUCT SOURCES
Log in or create an account to view Other Process Chemistry

HBN Resources (2)

HBN Resources for Product
TYPE TITLE
Article New health concerns about common additives to carpet fibers
Tool Turf Hazard Spectrum

Sources

Sources for Common Product Data
Source Uploaded Document Linked Document
APT US20100151158
APT US8329265B2
Arturf
Astroturf Safety
ATS Playground Specs
BASF Pigments-polyolefin
BASF Plastic Addititves
BASF Plastic Additives
Cheng Reinhard 2010
Chimassorb 2020
Columbia US9855682B2
Columbia US9855682B2
Controlled Products Specs
Covestro US10119223B2
Covestro US7026031B2
Cyasorb UV-3529
Dow Lomax
Dow US8981013B2
Dow US9040627B2
Flamestab NOR 116
Global Artificial Turf Market 2019-2025.pdf
Global Syn turf
Green PE Masterbatch
Intercept 20191008
Irganox 1010 TDS - 2015
Irganox B 215
Irgastat P TDS
Maffini 2016
MultiSport Pro TDS
NBI O-10820
Niax Silicone L-5617
Nylon Putt 2-tone
Patel 2013
PEER PFAS 2019
Plastics Additives
Polyolefins in Turf
Polytex US20170121856A1
Sapturf US9963835B2
Shaw US20170166771A1
Smart Turf
Softlawn Fresh Zoysia
SoftLawn-Select-Kentucky-Blue-Plus Spec Sheet
Sports Turf XP250 TDS
Sports Turf XP250 webpage
STC Essential Elements of Turf Systems
Tarkett Backing
Tarkett Turf
Tarkett US8524335B2
TenCate Backings
TenCate Components
TenCate Guidance
Tencate Thiolon
TenCate US8557363B2
Tinuvin 326
Tolinski 2015
Turf Group US20130177718A1
TURI Turf PFAS
Ullmann's Encyclopedia - Plastics, Additives
US5850708A
UV Absorbers-Polymers.pdf
Van Ulirsch 2010
WO2019170365A1
XFleX SEBS MSDS