The Latest Advancements for Artificial Turf
Artificial turf products have made several advancements over the years, making them a viable option for playgrounds, playing fields, or lawns. Many of these updates have been aimed at improving aspects such as aesthetics, durability, and safety. Working with suppliers like Goat Turf offers you access to the various benefits made available through these new technologies. Here are some of the latest advancements in artificial turf and their benefits:
Enhanced Safety Measures
Each new generation of artificial turf products incorporates updated safety measures targeted at reducing the risk of injury, property damage, and the transmission of disease. Designers have taken on the challenge of making turf more resistant to disease-carrying pathogens and less susceptible to damage from environmental hazards. Various innovations in design and fabrication have resulted in recent turf products being safer for parents, kids, and even pets.
SYNLawn Turf (for which Goat Turf is the area’s exclusive distributor) has introduced Sanitizing Silver Technology to improve product safety. This antimicrobial technology eliminates pet odors and inhibits the growth of algae and fungi. The StatBlock feature introduces anti-static components at the turf’s molecular level to reduce the buildup of static electricity. This helps the turf maintain its American Society for Testing and Materials (ATSM) E-108 Class A fire rating. All 2024 SYNLawn products also continue to meet the highest industry safety standards, including certifications from the International Play Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (IPEMA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Improved Drainage Capabilities
Advancements made within the turf industry aim to solve potential water retention issues. Adjustments to turf backing enhance the speed at which water drains through the fibers and percolates into the underlying base layer and soil. These improved speeds help to prevent warping and premature deterioration of the turf’s backing layer.
A newer enhancement with SYNLawn Turf is the EnviroLoc+ backing system. Knit backing systems rely on microscopic holes cut alongside larger perforated boreholes to assist with drainage. These holes can become clogged with particulates over time. EnviroLoc+ solves this problem with a unique backing pattern comprised of soybean-based fibers to help augment the draining alongside the standard perforations. This backing layer produces an efficient drainage rate of up to 90 inches per hour, preventing standing water and other liquids from accumulating.
Better Long-term Durability
Besides assisting with water drainage, the backing system supports the turf layer’s stability over time. A system that is resistant to stress from the elements retains its structural integrity better, preventing warping and bubbling. Such durability allows artificial turf to demonstrate similar resiliency to extreme weather conditions as natural grass. Technological advancements in the turf industry deliver just that. New backing systems reduce damage from repeated exposure to water and incoming infrared radiation.
The Enviroloc+ system incorporated into SYNLawn turf increases durability against water damage with its impressive drainage capacity. Less water staying on the backing system leads to less warping of its component fibers, contributing to improved dimensional stability over time. SYNLawn combats the deterioration of its turf due to heat with its thermal protection shield. This technology protects the underlying backing layer fibers from becoming overheated by improving the reflective capacity of the turf itself. Performance tests have shown this enhanced reflectivity to be significantly greater than previous product iterations.
Reduced Environmental Impact
Recent technological improvements in artificial turf design and installation processes have been geared toward reducing the product’s environmental impact. Aesthetic design improvements make the synthetic turf look more grass-like by enhancing softness and adding natural-looking color variations. This can help increase its adoption by property owners. Increases in turf installation may lead to an overall decrease in the amount of water used for irrigation and pesticide applications, conserving resources and reducing chemicals.
Using more environmentally friendly materials for turf installation builds upon these benefits. At Goat Turf, we prefer Envirofill as our synthetic turf infill. Envirofill is free from heavy metals and harmful chemicals, and its components are recyclable. It also uses a low-energy manufacturing process to help reduce its carbon footprint.
Artificial turf has shown improvements in sustainability by transitioning from petroleum-based polymers to bio-based polymers in its backing layers. Such components typically have a longer functional life. The net result of this advancement is an increased total renewability percentage for SYNLawn products. This means that when the time does come to replace the artificial turf, much of it can be reused rather than sitting in a landfill.
Find the Right Artificial Turf for Your Project
At Goat Turf, we carry an extensive inventory of technologically advanced artificial grass products. Our 20,000-square-foot warehouse features row after row of top-of-the-line SYNLawn turf solutions. Whether you’re a landscaper or a pool designer, our team can help you find a suitable product for your project. Contact us today for more information about our artificial turf products and installation services.