History of Synthetic Grass or Astroturf
1950s: The Ford Foundation
studied ways to improve the physical fitness of young people. They observed
that rural folks were more active and fit than urban folks were.Late 1950s: The Chemstrand
Company, a subsidiary of Monsanto Industries were developing new synthetic
fibers for use in carpeting. Monsanto was encouraging the use of carpets
in schools in conjunction with the Ford Foundation’s Educational Facilities
Laboratory, headed by Dr. Harold Gores. Dr. Gores suggested that Chemstrand
develop the perfect urban playing surface, Gores knew about both the Chemstrand
synthetic fiber research and the Ford fitness studies.1962 - 1966: The Creative
Products Group, part of Chemstrand’s research organization worked on creating
the new playing surface. The surface was tested for foot traction and cushioning,
weather drainage, flammability and wear resistance.1964:
The Creative Products
Group installs a synthetic turf called Chemgrass at the Moses Brown School
in Providence Rhode Island. This was the first large-scale installation
of a synthetic turf.1965:
Judge Roy Hofheinz builds
the AstroDome in Houston, Texas. Hofheinz consults Monsanto about replacing
the natural grass with a new synthetic playing surface.1966:
The Houston Astros’
baseball season begins on a Chemgrass surface now renamed Astroturf at
the AstroDome.
At first, the Astrodome had real grass. The first Astros game, an exhibition with the New York Yankees, demonstrated that the semitransparent cream-colored panels in the roof made fly balls too difficult to see. So, the ceiling tiles were painted, but the grass died. This led to the installation of plastic grass known as Astroturf.
It’s interesting to note that almost all of the competitors of Astroturf have disappeared. It is the Heinz ketchup of synthetic grass.
Posted by api in Blast from the past, Wonders of technology