Abstract: A synthetic turf comprising a tufted material having a hot melt adhesive applied to a back side thereof at a rate of no more than about 12 oz/yd2, wherein the turf has a tuft lock strength of at least 5 pounds in accordance with the tuft lock test of ASTM-D 1335 and a water permeability of at least about 40 inches/hour in accordance with test DIN 18-035.

Abstract: A synthetic turf is made by providing a tufted material having a plurality of bundles of fibers extending outwardly from a front side thereof; providing a hot melt adhesive having a ring and ball softening point and heating the adhesive to a temperature corresponding to at least its ring and ball softening point; and applying the thus heated hot melt adhesive to a back side of the tufted material, wherein the adhesive cools to a temperature substantially below its ring and ball softening point after it has been applied to the back side of the tufted material. The thus treated material is preferably passed directly against and around a heated drum maintained at a temperature substantially corresponding to the ring and ball softening point of the hot melt adhesive to render the adhesive in a sufficiently plastic state such that the adhesive substantially penetrates into interstices of the bundles of fibers to substantially bind together each of the fibers of each of the bundles.