what are turf beads

Turf beads, also known as crumb rubber, are small black rubber pellets that are mixed into synthetic grass to serve as infill material. They are used to stabilize the synthetic fibers and ensure they remain upright, as well as to cushion the impact of players hitting the ground, making artificial turf safer than natural grass in regards to preventing injuries. Pellet sizes ranging from about one-sixteenth to one quarter inch in diameter are used on synthetic turf. Crumb rubber is typically applied at a rate of two to four pounds per square foot of synthetic turf. However, there has been some concern about the safety of crumb rubber infill material, as it is made from pulverized car tires and may contain harmful chemicals.