Artificial Grass Fiber Materials

Polyethylene(PE) Artificial Grass Fibers :

Polyethylene (PE) is a very resilient product and has great colorfast. Very durable and makes up about 16% of all plastic extrusions and moldings and range from plastic sheeting, plastic bags & even children’s playground-slides. It has a much lower melt point than say nylon, with PE melt point starting at 120 to 130 °C (250 to 265 °F) The wear characteristics are not as impressive as nylon or polypropylene.

However, PE has a great “hand” or softness to the touch and makes is an ideal component for artificial grass.
PE’s final compliments are inability to absorb moisture & UV stabilization, which makes it ideal at mitigating bacteria-growth & odor build-up.

Polypropylene(PP) Artificial Grass Fibers :
Polypropylene (PP) typically is the most prevalent and common low-end and inexpensive plastic. PP is most commonly used for plastic moldings where it is injected into a mold while molten, forming complex shapes at relatively low cost and high volume, examples include bottle tops, bottles and fittings. It carries a great bit of flexibility coupled with strength.
PP would have its greatest exposure in ubiquitous “out-door” green carpet, sold in most home improvement stores by the roll.
PP’s downfall comes in the colorfastness and UV breakdown. To prevent UV breakdown, typically carbon black is added as a stabilizer. However, black artificial grass would be very undesirable.

Nylon(PA) Artificial Grass Fibers:
The strongest and the most expensive fiber is nylon. Furthermore, holds color longer, has greater resistance to wear, and a far higher melt point than traditional olefins with nylon melt points starting at 375°F to 663°F or 190°C to 350° Nylon’s one weak point is Hygroscopy, the ability of a substance to attract water molecules from the surrounding environment through either absorption or adsorption (Source Wikipedia).

What this means: If you’re an architect or specifier and thinking of using artificial grass for say a k9-park or dog-park, then nylon would be the wrong component in the artificial grass. The absorption of urine and other odor caring liquids would be prevalent.
However, nylon has many other valuable properties such as the ability to hold shape and great when used in artificial grass lawns or landscape areas where the homeowner doesn’t want infill materials, less the animals.