What is Infill?
In basic terms, infills are the substance that the installers put in between the blades. Infill is made up of small pieces of crushed material that are placed over the top of the artificial turf and lay within the blades of artificial grass. The synthetic grass infill facilitates a more plush, real-looking appearance with the standing position of the blades. As pressure is applied, the blades will bend down underweight and then spring back up into a standing position once the pressure is released. For this reason, infill will keep your artificial grass look and feel as real as possible.
Infill for synthetic grass is most commonly created with crushed material from silica sand, rubber, or cork. Even there are several types of infills but they were created for the same purpose, there are important differences between each type. They come in different colors, different feel, and even different antimicrobial properties.
The Purpose of Infill
In real grass, blades are held up in place by water and nutrients being sent upward from the roots. With artificial grass, on the other hand, infill must be used to mimic this process and hold artificial blades standing upright. Infills support the artificial grass blades keep standing up and make the artificial grass look and feel as real as possible.
Generally speaking, artificial turf infill is recommended for any synthetic grass installation. It fills in the space between the grass blades and has several other functions as well.
- Infill helps the aesthetics of your turf by keeping the blades upright.
- Resiliency and shock Attenuation. Infill makes the surface springy, which makes it more comfortable for people to play on. Infill is often used to absorb the impact of falls (Note: Put shock pad is another way to add resilience and absorb the impact of falls). The appropriate infill also has a direct effect on your athletes’ movement and health, as well as the field’s playability. The good quality infill can increase foot stability, which will improve biomechanics, cool the temperatures of the sports field by retaining moisture, and reduce lower leg injuries.
- To protect the primary backing from UV exposure. Infill protects the artificial turf’s foundation, so it helps your synthetic lawn last longer.
- To add weight. Infill is also used to stabilize the turf carpet. By weighing down the turf, infill can help prevent movement and wrinkling. Artificial grass is like carpet that it will expand and contract with changes in temperature. Now we already combat this by producing our products with industry-leading primary and secondary backings to ensure dimensional stability. However, we also rely on infill as another tool to assist in dealing with expansion. (The addition of weight in conjunction with using a sufficient number of nails helps to ensure your artificial grass doesn’t end up looking like carpet that needs to be stretched.) The use of infill to add weight is particularly important when artificial grass is installed over a non-permeable sub-base such as concrete or asphalt since you don’t have the ability to install a grid of nails but rather typically have to use an industrial tape or glue.
- Infill provides drainage. Artificial grass infills aid in proper drainage for your field by maintaining original shape and density, allowing water to drain off of the artificial turf quickly – reducing downtime due to inclement weather.
Most Commonly Used Artificial Grass Infill Types
- Crumbled Rubber
- Subangular Silica
- Round Silica Granules
Crumbled rubber
Crumb rubber is one of the most common forms of artificial turf infill. It is made from recycled automotive tires that have been shredded into very small, smooth pieces, then rolled until all the sharp or rough edges are worn away. Crumb rubber has been proven to be safe for both children and pets. It has been used for several years as playground filler instead of sand and stone because it is softer and safer than stone, sand, or pea gravel. It can survive heavy foot traffic. It is popular with sports fields and other high traffic areas. The disadvantage is it absorbs sunlight and can make a yard hot.
We provide high-quality crumb rubber as well, you can take rubber granules together to save cost and ensure the performance if you purchase artificial turf from us.
Sub-angular Silica
Sub-angular silica is one of the least expensive artificial turf infill options and works incredibly well in yards that get only casual use. This would be a good option for families just looking for some time outside. This substance is a sand mix, so it isn’t artificial although it is manufactured. The downside is that it will eventually deteriorate quicker than the crumbled rubber.
Round Silica Granules
The overall most popular artificial turf infill is the rounded silica granules. This product is popular for several reasons:
· Affordability
· Comes with an anti-microbial coating
· It has a smooth texture
· Durability
How Many Kgs of Infill Should Be Used Per Square meter?
To better understand the correct amount of infill to use on your artificial grass surface, we must first start with the application(Landscape, putting green, football turf, tennis…), and the main specifications of the artificial turf. Different applications with different artificial turfs need different amounts of infills. Check the article to learn more – How Many infills Should You Install Into Your Artificial Grass
Artificial Grass Without Infill
Generally speaking, no mater for landscape, play areas, or football fields, we always recommend using infill for the traditional artificial grass to add stability, resistance, and durability. But In some situations, you do not need to use infill, and we do have artificial grass that does not need any infills even for football fields. Check the two posts below to learn more.