Learn how to read an artificial data sheet
Reading a technical data sheet can be very useful when choosing artificial grass. It will help you to understand the differences between their characteristics and, above all, to choose the best artificial grass for your future outdoor landscaping. To help you, our experts have come up with a detailed explanation of what these different criteria correspond to. Let's get started !
Summary :
1. How is synthetic grass yarn manufactured ?
2. Artificial grass yarn characteristics and vocabulary
3. Lexicon and specification of the file
4. What tests are carried out on our grass ?
5. What is the FPI (Fiber Performance Index) ?
How is artificial grass yarn manufactured ?
The artificial grass manufacturing process is divided into several stages : thread extrusion, twisting, tufting and finally baking. At Exelgreen, all these manufacturing steps are followed to the letter to provide you with artificial grass of exceptional quality.
Thread extrusion is a step that extracts the material from plastic beads, followed by twisting and tufting. These stages represent the transformation and assembly of the strands into the artificial grass backing, as with a large industrial sewing machine. The final stage in the manufacture of the yarns is the coating of the latex on the strands, a coating that ensures their great strength and durability.
If you'd like to know more about all these steps, we invite you to read our blog post dedicated to the manufacture of our false grass.
Characteristics and glossary of artificial grass yarns
Fiber
Fiber tells you about the composition of the yarns and polymer used to make it. At Exelgreen, our grass fibers are made from polyethylene, a derivative of plastic microbeads. Once melted, these form the basis of the yarns.
Velour weight (gr/m2)
Ex : 1390
Indicates weight of yarn only
Structure
The yarn structure indicates the manufacturing process used for artificial grass. 2 techniques exist: monofilament yarns and fibrillated yarns. Monofilament yarn consists of a single continuous strand, while fibrillated yarn is a continuous strip cut to create several individual threads. At Exelgreen, our turfs are made up of either flat or C-shaped top yarn and a so-called 3D yarn. This assembly is made up of a blend of 3 high wires of different thicknesses, widths and shapes. The crimped yarns provide thickness and comfort, as well as excellent support. You'll find green and beige or brown and beige crimped wires to give artificial grass an earthy appearance.
Thread thickness
Ex : 160
Indicates in microns the thickness of the artificial grass yarn used.
Fiber height (mm)
Ex: 20
Indicates the height of the yarn in mm. In accordance with textile product regulations, a + or - tolerance may apply. At Exelgreen, yarn heights can vary from 20 to 50 mm depending on the model.
Number of tufts per m2
Ex: 18,000.
This is the number of tufts per m². Not to be confused with the number of strands. One tuft contains several strands of artificial grass. The denser the artificial grass, the higher the number.
Gauge
Ex: 3/8
This is the spacing between two rows of wires. Gauge is calculated in inches, with 1 inch = 2.54cm. Expressed in 8 or 16 rows of tuft thread, it indicates the number of needles used in manufacture. An artificial grass 3/8 means you have 8 lines of thread over 7.62cm (3 x 2.54) or one thread every 0.95cm.
Dtex
Ex: 5500
Dtex is the abbreviation for Decitex. It expresses weight in grams per 10,000 linear meters. So, 5500 Dtex means that the yarn used fathers 5.5kg for 10000 linear m.
Glossary and file specifications
First backing
Ex: UV-stabilized fiberglass
Composed of 2 layers, it is generally made of UV-stabilized woven polypropylene fabric. This first backing serves as a support for the coating of artificial grass.
Second backing
Made of polyethylene, this layer offers an additional guarantee of quality against the fibers pulling out or separating over time.
Coating
Ex: Latex
Coating consists of covering the first backing to fix the artificial grass threads. The 2 main coating techniques are latex and polyurethane.
Total weight (gr/m2)
Ex : 2 051
Total weight includes the weight of the thread, the weight of the first backing and the coating. It's important to know that it's not the total weight of the product that determines the price, but the weight of the thread.
Roll width (m)
Ex: 1, 2 or 4
Indicates the different roll widths available. In accordance with textile regulations, a + or - tolerance may apply.
Roll length (m)
Ex : 25
Indicates the standard length of an entire roll. In accordance with textile regulations, a + or - tolerance may apply. Our artificial grass products are available almost to measure, with a maximum linear length of 30m per roll, and can be cut to the nearest 10 cm.
What tests are carried out on our lawns ?
Pull-out resistance
Ex : greater than 30 N
Expressed in Newtons, it provides information on the artificial grass's resistance to tearing and the carpet's strength. 1 newton = 0.1020 kilogram-force, so a product with a tear strength greater than 30 newtons can withstand more than 3kg of tension.
Permeability
Ex : 60L /M2 /min tested unballasted
Indicates the amount of water artificial grass lets through in 1 minute per 1 m². Tests are generally carried out without filling the turf with sand (unballasted). 60 l/m2/min corresponds to very heavy rain.
Color fastness
Ex : Xenon test: blue 7 gray 4
This test measures the impact of UV rays on artificial grass over time. These laboratory tests enable accelerated quality control of materials without the need for 5 and 10 years of outdoor testing.
Chlorine resistance
Ex : Yes
This test verifies the resistance of artificial grass yarn to chlorine. As the polymers used are chlorine-resistant, very few artificial grasses are chlorine-resistant. All our turfs can be installed around swimming pools.
Heat resistance
Ex : Class 3
The test classifies the turf into 3 classes according to the temperature obtained after exposing it to an infrared lamp for 3 hours.
Antistatic properties
Ex : <1.0 kV
The test evaluates the turf's electrical conductivity. The lower the value, the better.
REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals)
Ex : Certified free of heavy metals
REACH is a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, adopted on December 18, 2006, which modernizes European legislation on chemicals, and establishes a single integrated system for the registration, evaluation and authorization of chemicals in the European Union.
Filling
Ex : Without filling
Filling consists of inserting a certain amount of sand between the grass fibers to keep the artificial grass threads straight.
Guarantee
This warranty is a guarantee against UV rays. It ensures that your artificial grass will not fade over the years, depending on the model selected. Our turfs are guaranteed for 6, 8 or 10 years.
Softness
This test evaluates the softness of artificial grass to the touch on a scale of values established specifically for ornamental artificial grass in France.
Resilience
This test measures the height of the fibers before and after intensive compression, and the ability of the strand to straighten after compression.
Comfort
The test measures the sinking of the turf when walking and under the foot of a man of average build.
What is the FPI (Fiber Performance Index) ?
Notation FPI (Fiber Performance Index)
This is an objective measure of the performance and quality of ornamental turf, issued by the Labosport laboratory. The index is based on 3 qualities: long-term durability, feel comparable to natural grass and compliance with environmental standards.
Each turf is evaluated on these criteria and then rated on a scale of 1 to 100 for each of them. The overall FPI index is an average of the FPI test results, describing the overall quality of the fiber.
Softness, Resilience, Comfort
Ex : 3/5
All these criteria have been evaluated by our experts to help you make your choice according to the characteristics that seem most important to you. The higher the score, the softer, more comfortable and resilient the grass. Our experts have set up this rating system to help you choose the artificial grass that best meets your expectations and your own criteria.
With this detailed glossary, we hope to have answered any technical questions you may have about our artificial grass products. Don't hesitate to come and discover our permanent collection or our clearance collection for ever greener environments !
