The Difference Between High-Quality and Low-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn
When faced with suppliers offering vastly different quotes, have you ever wondered why artificial grass lawn that looks similar can have such a huge price difference? The answer lies in details that are difficult to discern with the naked eye. Today, we will take you deep into the production line, becoming "quality inspectors" to reveal, through firsthand observation, the massive gap between high-quality and low-quality artificial grass lawn.
Warning: The following comparisons may be unsettling, but it is these shocking details that determine whether your project will be a "once-and-done" success or a "nightmare" to begin with.
Tip 1: The Grass Yarn – The "Face" and "Soul" of the Artificial Grass Lawn
In the factory, we directly cut open the artificial grass lawn and observe its cross-section and material.
1. Material and Feel: PA (Nylon) vs. PE (Polyethylene) vs. PP (Polypropylene)
High-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn:
Prefers PE, or PE/PP Blends: High-end landscape and sports artificial grass lawn widely uses PE. We grab a handful of fibers; the feel is soft, smooth, and flexible. PE offers the best balance of UV resistance, flexibility, and wear resistance.
PA may be used for Sports Artificial Grass Lawn: For sports fields requiring extreme durability and resilience, PA (Nylon) is used. It feels stiffer but has excellent strength and recovery.
Factory Floor Test: Repeatedly and firmly rub a handful of grass fibers. After releasing, high-quality fibers quickly spring back, becoming fluffy again, and resist matting.
Low-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn:
Heavy use of PP: To reduce costs, PP (Polypropylene) is used extensively. We can feel it immediately: the hand feel is hard, brittle, rough, and has a strong plastic feel.
The Test Reveals the Truth: After the same rubbing test, PP fibers remain heavily matted and struggle to recover. After prolonged sun exposure, PP will severely degrade, becoming brittle and snapping easily. We can even briefly apply a lighter flame (in a ventilated area); PP will melt rapidly with black smoke and a pungent odor.
2. Yarn Shape and Stability:
High-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn：
Substantial Yarn, Uniform Shape: The cross-section of a single filament under magnification is regular, like C-shaped, diamond-shaped, U-shaped, etc. These structures enhance the fiber's rigidity and bounce.
Fibrillated Yarn is Uniform: The fibrillated (split) parts are like a mesh, effectively "gripping" the infill and protecting the upright blades.
Strong Backing Grip: Try pulling a single fiber with force. It's very difficult and requires significant effort. This indicates good tufting equipment, even adhesive coating, and that the yarn is securely "locked" into the backing.
Low-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn:
Thin, Flat Yarn, Prone to Splitting: The yarn is thin, soft, and irregularly shaped. The fibrillated yarn is rough and uneven, or even non-existent.
Pulls Out Easily: This is a common scene during our factory visits. Gently pulling by hand can easily remove one or even a cluster of fibers. This means poor bonding between the yarn and backing, leading to large-scale fiber loss during use – a dire consequence.
Tip 2: The Backing and Coating – The "Skeleton" and "Muscle" of the Artificial Grass Lawn
Turn the artificial turf over – the truth of the backing is laid bare.
1. Primary Backing
High-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn:
Material: Uses high-quality polyolefin non-woven fabric or mesh. It looks dense, uniform, and thick.
Function: This is the carrier for the tufted yarn. Its stability directly determines the dimensional stability of the entire artificial turf, preventing deformation from thermal expansion and contraction.
Low-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn:
Material: Uses cheap PP or recycled material made into non-woven fabric. It looks sparse, thin, and translucent – you might even see the front fibers through it. It might tear if pulled gently by hand.
2. Coating – This is the most critical difference point!
Material: Uses SBR (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber) latex or the superior Polyurethane (PU) backing.
Look and Feel: The coating layer is thick, even, and elastic. The color is usually a uniform light shade (e.g., creamy white, beige). Pressing it feels soft yet tough.
"Tear Test": Trying to tear the coating requires significant force and results in a tough, ductile tear, not a clean break. This ensures the artificial turf's longevity.
Drainage: The coating doesn't completely seal the backing's pores, ensuring excellent vertical drainage performance.
Low-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn:
Material: To save costs, large amounts of fillers (like calcium carbonate) are added, or inferior adhesives are used.
Look and Feel: The coating layer is thin, uneven, stiff, and brittle. The color is often dull or patchy. Scratching it with a fingernail can cause it to crumble and fall off like chalk.
"Smell Test": A pungent chemical smell is often present, indicating the use of non-environmentally friendly, harmful solvents.
"Fold Test": Fold a small sample of the backing. High-quality backing bends flexibly, while low-quality backing may crack or even break.
Tip 3: UV Resistance – Determines the "Youth" of the Artificial Grass Lawn
In the factory's aging lab or outdoor testing area, we see the magic of time.
High-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn:
Added High-Quality UV Stabilizers: Sufficient and uniformly distributed UV stabilizers are added during the masterbatch stage of yarn production. This is like applying "high-grade sunscreen" to the artificial grass lawn.
On-Site Evidence: Factories provide comparison samples exposed to different durations of UV light (simulating years of sunlight). High-quality samples, even after 2000+ hours of UV exposure, retain their vibrant green color and flexibility. Feeling and bending it confirms it remains strong.
Low-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn:
Insufficient or Poor-Quality UV Stabilizers: Sometimes, none are added at all.
Shocking On-Site Evidence: Comparison samples show severe fading (graying, whitening) after short UV exposure. Touching the surface reveals powdered fibers that break easily when pulled. This means in real-world conditions, your artificial grass lawn will be "prematurely aged" and need replacement within a year or two.
Tip 4: Fire Resistance – The Safety Lifeline
(Conducted in a designated safe area of the factory by professionals)
High-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn:
Built-in Flame Retardants: The yarn itself incorporates flame-retardant components during manufacturing.
Live Test: Applying a lighter flame to the tip of the grass fibers. High-quality artificial grass lawn resists sustained burning, self-extinguishing within seconds after the flame is removed. Only local shrinkage occurs, without flame spread, and relatively less smoke is produced.
Low-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn:
No Flame Resistance:
Live Test: Upon contact with a flame, it ignites and melts rapidly, forming molten plastic drips, and the fire continues to spread, accompanied by thick black smoke and pungent toxic fumes. This is an extremely deadly hazard for public spaces like schools and hotels.
Tip 5: Overall Craftsmanship and Quality Control
High-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn Factory:
Environment: Clean workshops, advanced equipment, high automation.
Quality Control: Online monitoring systems track pile height, density, and stitch rate in real-time. Each roll has a unique traceability code.
Finished Product: Artificial grass lawn have neat edges, a flat surface, and uniform color without variation.
Low-Quality Artificial Grass Lawn Workshop:
Environment: Chaotic and disorganized, outdated equipment.
Quality Control: Relies mostly on manual checks, high error margin.
Finished Product: Rolls are loose with uneven edges, the surface is visibly uneven, and you might even see obvious glue stains.
Conclusion: The Ultimate Buying Guide from the Factory
After this in-depth factory tour, you now have a "keen eye". When purchasing, always request samples and perform the following "physical exam":
1. Feel: Assess the softness and flexibility of the grass yarn.
2. Pull: Tug firmly on the fibers to check their anchorage.
3. Look: Inspect the density of the primary backing and the thickness/color of the coating.
4. Fold: Fold the backing to see if the coating cracks.
5. Smell: Check for any pungent odors.
6. Ask: Request UV test reports and fire resistance certificates.
Remember, every cent you pay for high-quality artificial grass lawn is an investment in a longer lifespan, lower maintenance costs, a safer environment, and lasting aesthetics. Every cent saved on low-quality Artificial Turf will likely turn into multiplied costs for repairs, replacement, and disputes in the near future. We hope this "Look Inside the Factory" tour helps you make the most informed choice.
Qingdao XiHY Artificial grass company is a professional manufacturer in China for years.With the advanced artificial grass fiber production equipment and turf machine, we can design different types of the grass for the customers’ various requirement.
