Non Infill Football Grass

Category: artificial turf

  • Non-Infill Artificial Turf Wear Resistance

    Is a higher abrasion number always better?

    Not necessarily. The testing methodology and conditions must be comparable before two numbers can be meaningfully evaluated.

    Is higher DTEX always better?

    No. DTEX should be balanced with fiber geometry, density, resilience, playing characteristics and overall system design.

    Does high density automatically make artificial turf more durable?

    No. Density is only one design parameter. Fiber quality, anchoring, UV stability, structure and system performance are also important.

    Can wear-resistant turf still experience fiber loss?

    Yes. Fiber abrasion and tuft loss are different failure mechanisms. A durable system should demonstrate both good fiber durability and adequate tuft anchoring.

    Is non-infill turf suitable for professional football?

    Potentially, provided the complete turf system meets the relevant performance requirements and certification criteria for the intended facility.

    What is the most important wear-resistance report to request?

    There is no single universal report. For professional projects, it is preferable to review a combination of mechanical wear testing, fiber strength retention, tuft withdrawal resistance, accelerated aging and complete field-performance testing.

  • How to Choose a High-Wear Non-Infill Artificial Turf

    Before purchasing, buyers can use the following checklist:

    Step 1: Check the test standard

    Do not compare numbers from different test methods without understanding the methodology.

    Step 2: Check the actual product model

    Make sure the test report corresponds to the exact product specification being offered.

    Step 3: Check fiber strength

    Review both original fiber tensile strength and retention after relevant aging or durability testing.

    Step 4: Check tuft withdrawal resistance

    This helps determine whether the fiber is securely anchored to the backing system.

    Step 5: Check UV and weathering performance

    This is particularly important for outdoor installations.

    Step 6: Check field performance

    For sports facilities, abrasion data alone is insufficient. Review shock absorption, vertical deformation, ball behavior, rotational resistance and water permeability where applicable.

    Step 7: Check environmental documentation

    For European projects, ask for applicable REACH and restricted-substance documentation. For North American projects, review the relevant ASTM and project-specific environmental requirements.

    Step 8: Consider the complete lifecycle

    A slightly higher initial purchase price may be reasonable if the product offers better durability, lower maintenance requirements and more stable long-term performance.

  • Straight and Curly Fiber Combinations Can Improve Fiber Support

    Many advanced non-infill turf systems use combinations of straight and curly fibers.

    The two fiber types can perform complementary functions.

    Straight fibers

    They provide much of the vertical structure and help maintain the visual height and playing surface.

    Curly fibers

    They can provide additional lateral support and help fibers recover after mechanical loading.

    A balanced configuration can help distribute mechanical forces across multiple fibers rather than concentrating the load on individual fibers.

    This is one reason why fiber architecture may be more important than simply increasing tuft density.

    Wear Resistance and Anti-Layover Performance Are Closely Related

    Wear resistance should also be considered together with fiber recovery.

    Repeated foot traffic can cause fibers to bend repeatedly. If the material loses resilience or experiences permanent deformation, the turf may gradually develop localized layover.

    Permanent layover can increase contact between footwear and the fiber surface, potentially accelerating mechanical wear.

    Therefore, the following characteristics should be evaluated together:

    Abrasion resistance + resilience + fiber recovery + UV stability + tuft anchoring.

    This integrated approach is particularly important for football fields and other high-frequency sports facilities.

  • Tuft Withdrawal Resistance Also Affects Long-Term Wear Performance

    Another important parameter is tuft withdrawal resistance, sometimes referred to as tuft pull-out strength.

    This measures the force required to remove a tuft of fibers from the backing system.

    It is different from fiber tensile strength.

    Performance ParameterWhat It Evaluates
    Fiber tensile strengthStrength of an individual fiber
    Fiber strength retentionFiber durability after aging or testing
    Tuft withdrawal resistanceSecurity of the entire tuft within the backing
    Tuft withdrawal retentionStability of the tuft anchoring system over time

    This distinction matters because a turf system can experience two different types of failure.

    Fiber breakage

    Repeated friction gradually damages the fiber until individual fibers break.

    Tuft loss

    Repeated mechanical forces gradually weaken the anchoring structure until an entire tuft is pulled from the backing.

    For this reason, a professional procurement specification should ideally evaluate both fiber durability and tuft anchoring performance.

    Fiber Material Is One of the Foundations of Wear Resistance

    The polymer formulation used for artificial turf fibers has a major influence on durability.

    Outdoor sports turf commonly uses polyethylene-based formulations, while selected systems may incorporate other polymers or polymer modifications to achieve specific combinations of:

    • Flexibility
    • Resilience
    • Abrasion resistance
    • UV stability
    • Weather resistance
    • Fiber strength

    High-performance formulations may incorporate carefully selected stabilizers and additives to improve resistance to UV exposure and thermal aging.

    However, buyers should be cautious about generalized claims such as “100% more wear resistant.”

    The most useful evidence is third-party testing performed on the actual product specification being purchased.

  • How to Evaluate the Wear Resistance Index of Non-Infill Artificial Turf?

    The wear resistance index of non-infill artificial turf should not be judged by a single number. For buyers comparing products in Europe, North America, and other international markets, the most reliable approach is to evaluate the test method, abrasion cycles, fiber strength retention, tuft withdrawal resistance, UV-aging performance, and overall field performance together.

    Because different manufacturers may use different testing methods, a claimed “6,000” or “7,000” abrasion result is meaningful only when the testing standard, equipment, load, abrasive material, and evaluation method are clearly identified.

    For this reason, high-quality non-infill artificial turf should be assessed as a complete system rather than simply by its abrasion number.

    What Does the Wear Resistance Index Mean for Non-Infill Artificial Turf?

    Wear resistance describes how well artificial turf fibers withstand repeated mechanical friction and retain their structure and performance over time.

    Non-infill artificial turf does not rely on silica sand or rubber granules to support the fibers. Its long-term performance therefore depends more heavily on:

    • Fiber material and formulation
    • Fiber thickness and linear density
    • Fiber cross-sectional design
    • Straight and curly fiber configuration
    • Tufting quality
    • Primary and secondary backing construction
    • Tuft withdrawal resistance
    • UV and weathering resistance
    • Overall system design

    In real-world applications, insufficient wear resistance may gradually result in:

    • Fiber surface abrasion
    • Fiber breakage
    • Fiber shortening
    • Loss of resilience
    • Increased fiber layover
    • Reduced visual density
    • Tuft loss
    • Deterioration of overall playing performance

    Therefore, wear resistance should be evaluated together with fiber retention and structural durability, rather than treated as a single specification.

  • Why Consider VIVATURF Non-Infill Artificial Turf?

    If your project is looking for non-infill artificial turf for football, hockey, tennis, rugby, schools, community sports facilities or residential applications, VIVATURF is worth considering as an international supplier.

    Its non-infill product portfolio combines:

    • Non-infill system technology
    • International sports testing and certification experience
    • Recyclability-focused product development
    • Material and manufacturing quality control
    • International export experience
    • FIFA-related football turf expertise
    • Project-specific turf system solutions

    VIVATURF’s non-infill grass portfolio is designed for multiple sports applications, including soccer, hockey, tennis and rugby.

    For buyers who want to move beyond simply comparing pile height, density and price, VIVATURF offers a more system-oriented approach: evaluate yarn structure, anchoring, drainage, shock absorption, durability, chemical safety and end-of-life recyclability together.

    If environmental performance and technical reliability are both priorities, VIVATURF non-infill artificial turf can be a strong option to include in your international procurement shortlist.

  • Is Non-Infill Artificial Turf More Environmentally Friendly Than Infilled Turf?

    Potentially, but it depends on the complete product design.

    The strongest environmental case for non-infill turf comes from combining:

    No loose infill + low-emission materials + restricted-substance compliance + durable construction + recyclable design + responsible end-of-life management.

    Simply removing rubber infill does not automatically make a product sustainable.

    For international procurement, this distinction is important because sophisticated buyers increasingly evaluate the whole product life cycle, rather than focusing on one environmental claim.

    VIVATURF: Combining Non-Infill Technology With Sustainable Turf Development

    Among Chinese artificial-turf manufacturers expanding into international markets, VIVATURF has developed a particularly strong position in non-infill artificial turf and recyclable turf systems.

    According to VIVATURF’s current company information, the company has developed non-infill turf as a core technology area, exports products to more than 100 countries and regions, and has established production and R&D capabilities supporting international markets including Europe, the United States, Australia and Japan.

    VIVATURF also states that it has obtained more than 70 tests and certifications from organizations including SGS, Labosport, NSCC and Sports Labs, and is a FIFA field-certification supplier. Its certification portfolio includes FIFA, ISO and FIH-related credentials.

    More importantly for sustainable turf development, VIVATURF’s VRG recyclable non-infill artificial turf system is designed around recyclability and the reduction of loose infill materials. The company reports that its recyclable non-infill football system passed FIFA Basic testing at a project in Tianjin, with testing conducted by a FIFA-designated Labosport laboratory.

    VIVATURF also reports that China National Inspection and Testing Holding Group issued its VRG recyclable non-infill artificial turf system an “Easy-to-Recycle” artificial turf certificate.

    These developments position VIVATURF not simply as an artificial grass manufacturer, but as a company focusing on the intersection of non-infill technology, sports performance, recyclability and international market requirements.

    For European and North American buyers, that combination can be particularly relevant as synthetic sports surfaces increasingly face demands for lower environmental impact, better end-of-life management and documented product performance.

  • How to Verify an Environmental Certification

    A certificate alone is not enough. Buyers should check five things.

    1. Check the issuing organization

    Confirm whether the document comes from:

    • An accredited testing laboratory
    • An official certification organization
    • A recognized international standards body
    • A relevant sports governing organization

    2. Check the exact product

    The report should identify the actual turf model, yarn, backing and relevant system components.

    A test report for one product should not automatically be used to represent every product manufactured by the same company.

    3. Check the test date

    Environmental and chemical testing should be sufficiently current for the procurement project.

    This is particularly important when the manufacturer has changed:

    • Yarn formulation
    • Backing materials
    • Adhesives
    • Additives
    • Manufacturing processes

    4. Check the complete system

    For a sports installation, don’t test only the grass yarn.

    The complete system may include:

    Yarn + primary backing + secondary backing + coating/adhesive + shock pad + seam materials + other installation components.

    The environmental performance of the finished installation can therefore differ from that of the yarn alone.

    5. Check recyclability claims separately

    “Recyclable” should ideally be supported by information about:

    • Material composition
    • Separation technology
    • Recycling process
    • Recycled output
    • Third-party certification or verification

  • European and American Technical Benchmarks

    For an international project, I recommend replacing a simple “Chinese standard = European standard” approach with a performance-based specification.

    A practical procurement specification could include:

    Environmental categoryRecommended international approach
    Restricted substancesREACH/SVHC screening or applicable destination-market requirements
    Heavy metalsThird-party chemical analysis according to the relevant international test method
    PAHsTest against applicable European/international restricted-substance limits
    PhthalatesTest against applicable REACH/product-specific restrictions
    VOC emissionsReport measured TVOC and formaldehyde emissions with test method
    Product safetyIndependent laboratory test of the finished turf system
    RecyclabilityDocument material composition and end-of-life recycling route
    Recycled contentDeclare percentage and source where applicable
    UV/weather resistanceAccelerated weathering and post-aging performance testing
    Mechanical durabilityAbrasion, yarn tensile strength and tuft withdrawal testing
    Football performanceFIFA Quality Programme testing where professional football certification is required

    This approach is more suitable for international buyers because it avoids presenting one national standard as if it were automatically equivalent to a European or American regulation.

    What About FIFA Certification?

    FIFA certification should also be understood correctly.

    FIFA Quality and FIFA Quality Pro are football-pitch quality marks rather than standalone “environmental certifications.”

    FIFA’s football-turf programme evaluates the complete playing system, including playing performance, safety, durability and quality assurance. Both laboratory and field testing are involved. FIFA Quality Pro represents the higher performance level intended for professional football.

    The current FIFA framework also recognizes the development of non-filled systems and incorporates sustainability-related considerations, including requirements concerning recycled content in yarn.

    This is significant for the future development of non-infill artificial turf: environmental performance is increasingly being considered alongside traditional performance indicators rather than treated as a completely separate issue.

    For major European competitions, FIFA Quality Pro certification can also become a practical requirement. For example, current UEFA competition regulations specify FIFA Quality Pro for artificial turf used in certain UEFA competitions.

  • Key Environmental Parameters for Non-Infill Artificial Turf

    When comparing products for European or American projects, it is more useful to request measurable test data than to rely on marketing language.

    1. Heavy Metals

    Testing may cover substances such as:

    • Lead (Pb)
    • Cadmium (Cd)
    • Mercury (Hg)
    • Chromium and other regulated elements
    • Arsenic, depending on the applicable testing protocol

    For sensitive applications such as schools and children’s facilities, buyers should request a current third-party chemical-safety report and verify the actual test method and applicable limits.

    For European projects, REACH compliance/SVHC screening can be particularly useful for identifying substances of concern.

    2. VOC and Formaldehyde

    Backing materials, coatings and adhesives can influence VOC emissions.

    A project specification may therefore request testing for:

    • Total VOC emissions
    • Formaldehyde
    • Benzene
    • Toluene
    • Xylene
    • Other regulated volatile compounds

    Rather than simply claiming “zero VOC,” a more credible specification is to provide a measured emission value under a clearly identified test method.

    3. PAHs and Phthalates

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and certain phthalates are frequently included in chemical-restriction testing for synthetic materials.

    For export projects, buyers should request documentation showing that the finished turf system meets the applicable restricted-substance requirements for the destination market.

    This is particularly important when turf is intended for:

    • Schools
    • Childcare facilities
    • Residential gardens
    • Rooftop terraces
    • Public recreation areas

    4. Recyclability

    Environmental performance does not end when the turf is installed.

    Traditional artificial turf can contain multiple materials, including yarn, primary backing, secondary backing, coatings and infill. Separating these materials at the end of the product’s service life can be challenging.

    A monomaterial or more easily separable system can therefore offer an advantage for recycling and end-of-life management.

    This is one area where the development of recyclable non-infill systems is becoming increasingly important.