Non Infill Football Grass

Category: Non Infill artificial football Grass

  • 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.

  • Fiber Strength Retention Is an Important Durability Indicator

    For sports-grade non-infill artificial turf, buyers should pay attention not only to the original fiber strength but also to fiber strength retention after accelerated aging and mechanical testing.

    Fiber tensile strength indicates the mechanical strength of an individual fiber.

    Fiber strength retention provides additional information about how well that fiber maintains its mechanical properties after exposure to:

    • UV radiation
    • Heat
    • Moisture
    • Repeated mechanical loading
    • Long-term environmental conditions

    For outdoor sports facilities, this distinction is particularly important.

    A fiber with high initial strength may not necessarily maintain the same performance after years of outdoor exposure.

    Therefore, international buyers should consider:

    Initial performance + aged performance + retention rate

    rather than relying exclusively on the initial laboratory value.

  • Abrasion Cycles: Useful, But Only When the Test Method Is Clear

    Some artificial turf manufacturers refer to abrasion results obtained using methods such as ASTM D3884, which is widely used for abrasion resistance evaluation of textile and related materials.

    However, ASTM D3884 should not automatically be interpreted as a universal artificial turf service-life standard.

    Test results can vary depending on:

    • Abrasive wheel type
    • Applied load
    • Rotation speed
    • Test duration
    • Sample preparation
    • Failure criteria

    Consequently, a statement such as:

    “Our artificial turf achieves 7,000 abrasion cycles and therefore lasts 10 years”

    would generally be too broad without additional evidence.

    For international procurement, buyers should ask:

    Which standard was used? What equipment was used? What were the test conditions? How was the endpoint determined?

    Only comparable test conditions allow abrasion results to be meaningfully compared.

    2. Simulated Wear Testing Is Particularly Relevant for Sports Turf

    For football fields, school sports facilities, training centers, and other high-use environments, simulated mechanical wear testing can provide useful information about long-term turf behavior.

    Testing systems such as Lisport-type mechanical wear testing, together with relevant European or international artificial turf test procedures, can simulate repeated mechanical loading and fiber interaction.

    Rather than focusing only on the number of cycles, buyers should examine the condition of the turf after testing.

    Important observations include:

    • Fiber breakage
    • Fiber deformation
    • Fiber recovery
    • Surface appearance
    • Mass loss
    • Fiber strength retention
    • Tuft withdrawal resistance retention
    • Backing integrity

    This leads to an important principle:

    The condition of the turf after simulated wear can be more informative than the cycle count itself.

    A product may tolerate a large number of cycles under a particular laboratory setup, but if its fibers lose significant strength or become permanently deformed, the result may have limited practical value.

  • 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.

  • Why Non-Infill Turf Can Have an Environmental Advantage

    The environmental advantage of non-infill artificial turf is not simply that it contains “no rubber.”

    The more important difference is the overall system architecture.

    A conventional infilled synthetic pitch may require significant quantities of sand and/or polymeric infill. During installation and operation, these materials can require additional management, and infill migration can become an environmental and maintenance concern.

    A non-infill system eliminates this additional infill component.

    That can potentially provide several benefits:

    No routine rubber infill replenishment

    There is no requirement to periodically top up rubber granules simply to maintain the intended playing characteristics.

    Reduced infill migration risk

    Because there is no loose rubber or sand infill, there is less risk of these materials being carried away through footwear, drainage systems or maintenance activities.

    Simplified maintenance

    The maintenance system can be simpler because there is no need to redistribute or replenish infill.

    Potentially easier end-of-life management

    When the turf is designed using compatible or recyclable materials, the absence of loose infill can simplify removal and recycling.

    However, non-infill does not automatically mean environmentally superior. A low-quality non-infill product made with unsuitable materials or difficult-to-recycle multilayer construction may still have environmental disadvantages.

  • Final Conclusion: Non-Infill Artificial Turf or Natural Grass?

    There is no universal answer.

    Non-infill artificial turf is particularly relevant when a project prioritizes:

    • Reduced routine maintenance
    • Lower irrigation demand
    • Consistent year-round appearance
    • High-frequency use
    • Predictable surface performance
    • Simplified management of loose infill

    Natural grass remains attractive when the priorities include:

    • Natural vegetation
    • Biological cooling
    • Natural appearance and feel
    • Landscape ecology
    • The ability to maintain a living lawn
    • A suitable climate and adequate maintenance resources

    The best choice should therefore be based on climate + usage intensity + maintenance capacity + water availability + installation conditions + lifecycle cost, rather than simply comparing the two materials as “artificial versus natural.”

    For projects choosing non-infill turf, VivaTurf’s combination of non-infill technology, international market experience and continued technical and environmental development makes it a manufacturer worth including in the procurement comparison.

  • Which Is Better for Different Applications?

    High-traffic residential areas

    Non-infill artificial turf can be attractive when the priority is a stable appearance and reduced routine maintenance.

    Family gardens

    Both can work.

    Natural grass may be preferable when the family values natural vegetation and has the time and resources to maintain it.

    Non-infill turf may be attractive where consistent appearance and reduced irrigation are priorities.

    Pet areas

    Non-infill turf can simplify routine cleaning because there is no loose granular infill to manage.

    However, drainage and regular cleaning remain important.

    Rooftops and terraces

    Non-infill turf can be suitable where the structural load, waterproofing, drainage and wind-resistance requirements are properly addressed.

    Parks and landscape projects

    Natural grass can provide ecological and landscape benefits that artificial turf does not replicate.

    Artificial turf may be considered for areas where intensive traffic, water limitations or maintenance requirements make natural grass difficult to sustain.

    Sports facilities

    The decision should be based on the specific sport, performance requirements, climate, maintenance resources and applicable certification/testing system.

  • Are the Standards the Same?

    No.

    The two systems are evaluated through different technical frameworks.

    For artificial turf, applicable standards may address:

    • Fiber and material properties
    • Physical performance
    • Durability
    • Water permeability
    • Backing
    • Sports-surface characteristics
    • Environmental or chemical requirements

    For sports applications, relevant EN/DIN standards, FIFA requirements and applicable ASTM or national standards may apply depending on the market and intended use.

    Natural grass is instead evaluated through considerations related to:

    • Grass species
    • Soil and growing medium
    • Drainage
    • Establishment
    • Turf quality
    • Landscape or sports-field construction
    • Irrigation and maintenance

    The exact standard should therefore be selected according to the application, country and project specification.