Scientific terms for non-turf surfaces

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Unwanted material which has contaminated the infill material and will start to clog up drainage pores. This reduces the rate at which water can infiltrate into the infill, contributing to possible issues of standing water, and also the rate at which water can drain away through the infill and carpet. See also Contaminant.

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A measure of the depth of infill within an artificial carpet. It is the depth, or height, of infill material from the surface of the backing material on the carpet to the top of the infill being measured. Readings would typically be taken over the whole of a pitch to help determine where a redistribution, or additional imported, material might be needed.

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An expression of the nature of the infill material and water content being distributed throughout the network of synthetic fibres within an artificial carpet.

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A synthetic grass carpet which has material incorporated amongst its fibres.

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The ability of an artificial carpet to reduce the friction produced by player-surface interaction. Polyethylene carpets produce a lower LSR than polypropylene ones.

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A non-turf, artificial, surface, which can be used for general playground activities (dense macadam) as well as tennis or netball (porous macadam).

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A relative term depending upon the sport the carpet has been designed for, but typically this might be 16mm ¯ 35mm pile length.

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These are very small particles of plastic material, less than 5mm in any one direction. They can be used, for example, as coatings for controlled release fertilisers or as rubber crumb infill for 3G pitches.

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A single strand of synthetic grass. These are often strung together to form distinct tufts of fibre.

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A carpet that has had fibres punched, with the use of heavy-duty needles, into a backing material. This type of carpet provides good stability of infilled sand due to the interweaving network nature of the fibres.