TCool - The Year of The Infill.
Synthetic Turf 101
What is synthetic turf infill?
Infill is crushed or graded material added between the turf blades within your synthetic turf system. Examples include silica sand, organic material ( hemp, wood chips, walnut shells), or crumb rubber.
Synthetic Turf Infill:
Mimics a natural grass system - soil supporting turf blades
Maintains turf’s aesthetic for years by keeping artificial turf blades upright
Adds ballast and weight for the artificial turf system
Creates footing and a more natural grass feel
Protects your turf by creating a barrier between harmful UV rays and the backing of your synthetic turf
Provides performance and safety. Attenuates shock for athletes and provides proper footing on sports fields, playgrounds, and recreational areas.
“The Year of the Infill”
Synthetic turf infill has become more important than ever. With so many types of infills to choose from, there is a lot of confusion around educating the consumer on what infill makes most sense in 2021 and beyond.
Synthetic turf is well-known for it’s easy maintenance and enhanced function over natural grass. For decades though, one fact has been overlooked: synthetic turf in its natural habitat has the potential to reach temperatures of 140ºF- 200ºF. Within the synthetic turf industry, the educated consumer is well-aware of this fact, but has yet to see innovation. There has not been an effective, sustainable solution to this incredibly apparent synthetic turf heat problem.
As the densification of the world intensifies, so do important sustainability issues such as the urban heat island effect, climate change, and the consequences from these issues - increased energy consumption, heat related illnesses, etc.
As synthetic turf users, we must understand the implication of the type of infill we choose. Not only for us, but for our planet.
What synthetic turf infill options are available?
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Expected Lifetime
Long lasting, however can migrate over time. May need to replenish as turf gets used.
Benefits
Performance size grades available. Mitigates compaction. Infused with a biobased Antimicrobial. Cooling Up to 50ºF for Multiple days
Cost
Premium
Drawbacks
Due to shipping costs, can be slightly more expensive than alternative infill options.
Sustained Evaporative Cooling?
YES. Up to 50ºF
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Expected Lifetime
Long lasting, however can migrate over time. May need to replenish as turf gets used.
Benefits
Performance size grades available. Most contain antimicrobials. Green Color.
Cost
Premium
Drawbacks
Most considered microplastics due to particle size. Some contain heavy metal antimicrobials, which can cause bio accumulation in the environment.
Sustained Evaporative Cooling?
No
-
Expected Lifetime
Long lasting, however can migrate over time. A % of material to be replenished annually.
Benefits
Economical. Widely available, low price point.
Cost
Cheap
Drawbacks
Angular edges and variable particle size grading , will compact if area is high traffic. More abrasive than alternatives.
Sustained Evaporative Cooling? No
-
Expected Lifetime
Long lasting, however can migrate over time. A % of material will need to replenish as turf gets used.
Benefits
Provides proper footing and shock attenuation. Can improve HIC and GMAX rating. Does not require shock pad.
Cost
Cheap
Drawbacks
Tends to get hotter than alternative infills. Amount of material needed. up to 3-4 lbs. Requires maintenance or grooming yearly.
Sustained Evaporative Cooling?
No
-
Expected Lifetime
High % of material needs to be replenished annually.
Benefits
Organic based. Can improve HIC / GMAX rating when combined with a shock pad.
Cost
Premiuim
Drawbacks
Quickly degrades /rots. Needs to be replenished frequently.
Sustained Evaporative Cooling?
No - Extremely short term cooling.
-
Expected Lifetime
Long lasting, however can migrate over time. A % of material will need to replenish as turf gets used.
Benefits
Virgin rubber that can be made in any color. Extremely durable, low maintenance option.
Cost
Premium
Drawbacks
EPDM infill not as readily available as recycled crumb rubber. Can be the most expensive of any infill. Tends to get hotter than alternative infills.
Sustained Evaporative Cooling?
No
-
Expected Lifetime
Material may need to be replenished every 2-3 years
Benefits
Considered a good infill to use to help eliminate pet waste smells Readily available on west coast.
Cost
Premium
Drawbacks
Tends to be very dusty, will crush, and degrade very quickly.
Sustained Evaporative Cooling?
No
-
Expected Lifetime
High % of material needs to be replenished annually.
Benefits
Organic based. Can improve HIC / GMAX rating when combined with a shock pad.
Cost
Premium
Drawbacks
Quickly degrades /rots. Needs to be replenished frequently.
Sustained Evaporative Cooling?
No - Extremely short term cooling.
-
Expected Lifetime
High % of material needs to be replenished annually.
Benefits
Organic based. Can improve HIC / GMAX rating when combined with a shock pad.
Cost
Premium
Drawbacks
Quickly degrades /rots. Needs to be replenished frequently.
Sustained Evaporative Cooling?
No - Extremely short term cooling.
What is TCool® Infill?
TºCool is an artificial turf, performance based, cooling infill that is engineered to work through the same thermoregulation process our bodies use to keep us cool - evaporative cooling. TºCool simply requires hydration, which can come from irrigation, rainfall, or humidity. Similar to natural grass, T°Cool utilizes the moisture that it holds to create powerful evaporative cooling of the artificial turf surface - Up to 50ºF cooler synthetic turf surface temperatures.
What makes TCool the best infill choice for any synthetic turf application?
TºCool is the only proven and patented cooling agent specifically designed to extend the effects of evaporative cooling on synthetic turf.
There are so many choices for infill and turf systems out there, but not one has the proven, long lasting cooling effect and added benefits of TºCool. And TºCool doesn’t just claim these benefits, it has proven them overtime.
The superior benefits of TºCool:
100% non toxic / non hazardous
Long lasting, yet Biodegradable
35ºF-50ºF cooler artificial grass surfaces
Less heat = less friction = less “turf” burns
Bio based Antimicrobial
Cost Effective - similar price point to standard performance based infills. But with the proven 35ºF-50ºF+ cooling!
Contains zero plastic coatings / zero heavy metals
Our chosen 16/30 grade sand is rounded, dustless, well graded, and spherical.
Does not negatively impact performance or HIC Fall ratings.
TCool is safer for participants, maximizes synthetic turf usage and extends your overall investment for many years.
TCool is a game changing technology that has completely disrupted the synthetic turf industry. Before TCool, there was no long term solution of keep the turf cool and safe for the users. Now homeowners, parents, pet owners, municipalities, recreation facilities, high schools and colleges are recognizing the synthetic turf heat issue and the vast benefits of installing a synthetic, turf-cooling solution, and TºCool is leading for way.
When choosing infill for your next synthetic turf project, choose wisely. Choose the best - TºCool®.