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Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) Infill for Synthetic Turf

MasterFormat 32 18 13 Synthetic Grass Surfacing; 32 18 16 Synthetic Resilient Surfacing; 32 18 16.13 Playground Protective 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.

The term thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) can be applied to a wide range of chemistries. These include styrenic block copolymers, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers, polyamide block copolymers, copolyester elastomers, thermoplastic polyolefins,...

More about Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) Infill for Synthetic Turf

The term thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) can be applied to a wide range of chemistries. These include styrenic block copolymers, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers, polyamide block copolymers, copolyester elastomers, thermoplastic polyolefins, and thermoplastic vulcanizates. Styrenic block copolymers appear to be the most common chemistry used in infill, though other chemistries can be used in TPE infill. TPE usually does not require a curing agent. Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV), however, are an exception that get classified as TPE and do utilize curing agents like sulfur. 

TPE is often advertised as being free of chemicals associated with other types of rubber infill, such as phthalates, PFOS, PAHs, VOCs, and heavy metals. While testing data are quite limited, the available data do indicate that TPE has lower concentrations of these residual chemicals than other types of rubber infill. Some residual chemicals may be present depending on the additives in the TPE. A 2017 Norewegian Environmental Agency study identified one phthalate and a number of heavy metals present at detectable levels in TPE samples provided by two suppliers, but the same study tested for a several PCBs, PAHs, or alkylphenol ehtoxylates and did not detect any of these compounds. This study also estimated that TPE is associated with the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions among the most typical types of infill used in synthetic turf, primarily due to the fact that it is generally made from virgin materials. 

Because so many different chemistries fall under the term thermoplastic elastomer, it can be difficult to determine precisely what chemistry is used in any individual product, and some products get marketed as TPE that do not seem to fall into this category. For instance, at least one product was identified that consisted mostly of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This Common Product describes a styrenic block copolymer thermoplastic elastomer designed to be used as infill in artificial turf. Products intended for indoor use may include a flame retardant, and some products may include biocides and organometallic catalysts, though none of these were determined to be common. 

Name % Weight Whole Function GREENSCREEN® Sources
Thermoplastic Elastomer Composed of Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene Styrene Block Copolymer and Polyethylene
44.13% Polymer Species Subscribe to view
Limestone
1317-65-3
39.03% Filler Subscribe to view
C18-C50 branched, cyclic and linear hydrocarbons - Distillates
848301-69-9
13.51% Plasticizer, Process Oil Subscribe to view
Titanium dioxide
13463-67-7
1.46% Pigment Subscribe to view
Phthalocyanine Green
1328-53-6
0.99% Pigment Subscribe to view
Zinc, elemental
7440-66-6
0.29% Residual Subscribe to view
Irganox 1010
6683-19-8
0.28% Antioxidant Subscribe to view
1,2,3-Benzotriazole
95-14-7
0.28% UV Stabilizer Subscribe to view
Chromium
7440-47-3
0.02% Residual Subscribe to view
DI(2-ETHYLHEXYL)PHTHALATE (DEHP) (primary CASRN)
117-81-7
0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Lead
7439-92-1
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Nickel
7440-02-0
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
CADMIUM
7440-43-9
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Cobalt
7440-48-4
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Vanadium, elemental
7440-62-2
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Name % Weight Part % Weight Whole Function GREENSCREEN® Sources
Thermoplastic Elastomer Composed of Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene Styrene Block Copolymer and Polyethylene
44.13% 44.13% Polymer Species Subscribe to view
Limestone
1317-65-3
39.03% 39.03% Filler Subscribe to view
C18-C50 branched, cyclic and linear hydrocarbons - Distillates
848301-69-9
13.51% 13.51% Plasticizer, Process Oil Subscribe to view
Titanium dioxide
13463-67-7
1.46% 1.46% Pigment Subscribe to view
Phthalocyanine Green
1328-53-6
0.99% 0.99% Pigment Subscribe to view
Zinc, elemental
7440-66-6
0.29% 0.29% Residual Subscribe to view
Irganox 1010
6683-19-8
0.28% 0.28% Antioxidant Subscribe to view
1,2,3-Benzotriazole
95-14-7
0.28% 0.28% UV Stabilizer Subscribe to view
Chromium
7440-47-3
0.02% 0.02% Residual Subscribe to view
DI(2-ETHYLHEXYL)PHTHALATE (DEHP) (primary CASRN)
117-81-7
0.01% 0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Lead
7439-92-1
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Nickel
7440-02-0
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
CADMIUM
7440-43-9
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Cobalt
7440-48-4
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Vanadium, elemental
7440-62-2
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view

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Known or Potential Residuals

Known or Potential Residuals for Chemical
CASRN NAME GREENSCREEN® TYPE FREQUENCY % Weight Chemical % Weight Product SOURCE
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Other Process Chemicals

Other Process Chemicals for Chemical
CASRN NAME GREENSCREEN® TYPE FREQUENCY % WT CHEM % WT PRODUCT SOURCES
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Habitable Resources (1)

Habitable Resources for Product
TYPE TITLE
Tool Turf Product Guidance

Sources

Sources for Common Product Data
Source Uploaded Document Linked Document
Allen 2000
Bendedek 2006
DGR-6030-MSDS
Dryflex Circular
Ethanox Antioxidants
FieldTurf Maintenance
Fine Chemical US10316474B2
Fogrin HT Verde SDS
Fogrin Webpage
Guardian TPE
Guardian TPE Performance
Guardian TPE SDS
Guardian US20170233956A1
Holo SP TDS
Irganox 1330
Klinpituksa 2014
KR100780229B1
Mt Sinai-Artificial Turf
NEA M-955
Organometallics in TPE
Patel 2013
Plastics Additives
Polymer Database-TPE
Risella X 430
Risella X 430 SDS
Simoes 2017
SoFTER Infill Brochure
SoFTer US20180258280A1
SoFTer US7754308B2
STC Environmental Guidelines-Infill
STC Essential Elements of Turf Systems
STC Infill Maintenance
Taoipol SEBS 6150
Terra HT TDS
Tinuvin 327
TPE Colorants
TTI Promax-37 TDS
TURI TPE
WO2009010673A2
XFleX SEBS MSDS