Unlocking the Structure of Non-Infill Artificial Turf: Three Core Layers Supporting Stability and Safety
As non-infill artificial turf gains traction in schools, community fitness areas, and professional sports venues, its “no infill granules, yet high elasticity and durability” performance has attracted significant attention. The secret lies in its scientifically engineered three-layer structure—the base layer, the shock-absorbing layer, and the turf fiber layer. Each component is carefully designed and precisely combined to ensure stability, safety, and long-term durability. Industry leader Vivaturf has further elevated this structure through technical innovation, setting a benchmark for quality in the non-infill turf sector.
1. Base Layer: The Foundation that Determines Longevity
The base layer serves as the “groundwork” of the turf system, directly affecting flatness, drainage, and overall lifespan. Studies show that nearly 30% of turf failures result from improper base construction, underlining its importance.
Rigid Bases (cement or asphalt concrete) deliver high load-bearing capacity, with flatness deviations kept within 3mm per 2m. Combined with a 1.5‰–2‰ drainage slope, these systems allow rapid water discharge, making them ideal for football fields and school playgrounds.
Flexible Bases (crushed stone + geotextile + rubber mat) add resilience and shorten installation time by 40%, making them suitable for rooftop gardens and children’s play areas where weight and cushioning are critical.
Improper base preparation—such as insufficient drying or compaction—can lead to surface bulging or cracking, significantly increasing repair costs.
2. Shock-Absorbing Layer: The Core Innovation Replacing Infill Granules
Traditional turf relies on rubber granules or sand for resilience. Non-infill systems, however, achieve elasticity through a specialized shock pad layer.
Materials: TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) and EVA are common, with TPE favored for durability and environmental performance.
Design: Pads often feature honeycomb or textured surfaces to improve bonding with fibers and accelerate drainage.
Performance: High-quality TPE pads achieve 60–65% shock absorption, well above the ≥50% industry standard, effectively reducing stress on athletes’ joints.
Tests show that low-grade EVA pads can lose more than 30% of their elasticity within two years, while premium TPE pads maintain performance with less than 15% degradation over five years.
3. Turf Fiber Layer: The Face of Durability and Realism
The fiber layer defines appearance, touch, and wear resistance. Made primarily from PE (polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene), each has distinct advantages:
PE fibers: softer and more natural in look, suited for landscapes and schoolyards.
PP fibers: stiffer, stronger, and highly abrasion-resistant, ideal for basketball and high-traffic sports courts.
Modern monofilament fibers (flat or oval) dominate the market, resisting clumping and mimicking natural grass. Curly fibers create a lush, voluminous effect, commonly used in rooftops and decorative spaces. Backings typically use PP woven cloth + hot-melt adhesive, with tuft bind strength ≥20N/tuft. High-end products often add fiberglass mesh to enhance tear resistance.
4. Functional Coatings: Expanding Performance Boundaries
To meet specialized demands, additional functional layers are being adopted:
Nano hydrophobic coatings: self-cleaning surfaces that wash dirt away with rain.
UV-resistant layers: reduce color fading to ≤5% over five years, suitable for regions with intense sunlight.
Antibacterial coatings: silver-ion technology prevents bacterial growth, enhancing safety in schools and playgrounds.
Climate-adaptive pads: hybrid TPE + phase-change films regulate temperature, reducing turf surface heat by 8–12°C in summer while maintaining elasticity in winter.
Vivaturf: Structural Innovation Driving Industry Standards
As a global leader, Vivaturf has optimized all three structural layers to deliver tailored solutions for different scenarios:
Base Layer Customization: one-on-one site surveys ensure the right choice between rigid or lightweight flexible foundations.
Shock Pads: SGS-certified TPE pads with 65% shock absorption, maintaining elasticity with just 10% degradation over five years.
Fiber Systems: 100% virgin PE/PP with UV stabilizers and anti-wear additives; tuft densities up to 20,000 tufts/㎡ withstand 50,000 cycles of heavy foot traffic without flattening.
Backing: double-layer PP with butyl adhesive delivers tuft bind strength ≥25N/tuft, solving the industry challenge of fiber pullout.
Vivaturf also offers scene-specific functional enhancements:
Antibacterial coatings for schools.
Hydrophobic coatings for stadiums to enable rapid re-use after rainfall.
Enhanced UV protection for high-exposure regions.
With over 200 school projects and 50+ municipal parks already equipped, from Zhengzhou Nankai High School’s football field to rooftop gardens in Shanghai, Vivaturf has proven its ability to deliver long-term stability with zero major repairs over five years. Backed by 8–10 year warranties and nationwide after-sales service, Vivaturf provides not just premium turf, but also peace of mind through design-to-maintenance lifecycle support.