ETFE Membrane Tensile Materialize Structural Innovation

ETFE or Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene is a unique material popularly used in today’s design industry. It is one of the most exciting materials in the construction world that has superb chemical and electrical properties. ETFE is simply a fluorine based plastic which is highly corrosion resistant and strong enough to withstand wide temperature range.

In the year 1980 in Europe Du Pont mainly invented ETFE as an insulation material for its use in aeronautics industry. At that time, ETFE was merely used as a polythene sheet applied in green house poly-tunnels for its unique resistance, durability and transparency to ultra violet light. So, at that time ETFE was not taken into consideration as primary building material. But later Stefan Lehnert, a German mechanical engineering student started its further investigation, observed its structural properties, high light transmission power and its excessive strength all of which are really advantageous and demanding the construction world. From then on the system has been developed and gradually the material has been taking position in the worldwide construction as a main stream building material.

Features of ETFE

�    It is a copolymer of ethylene.

�    It is highly corrosion resistant, chemical resistant and structurally strong enough.

�    Its structural strength makes it capable over a wide range of temperature.

�    This material has the great transparency to transmit light across the entire visible light area.

�    ETFE has superior durability that can last over 20 years keeping intact its strength and transparency.

�    It is highly translucent that transmits light up to 95 %.

�    Its extreme light weight enables a reduction in the structural frame work which not only imposes less-load on the supporting structure, but also becomes cost effective for the clients also.

�    It is 100% recyclable, and a minimal energy is used for its transportation and installation.

�    Due to its nonstick surface it is natural self cleaning material.

�    It can resist odors and airborne pollutants that make it chemically resistant from atmospheric pollution.

�    ETFE is becomes unaffected by ultra violet light.

�    Its tensile strength is 42 N/mm² or 6100 psi.

�    Its working temperature range is (- 185°C to 150°C or -300°F to 300°F)

Applications

In architectural world

In case of temporary or permanent structures ETFE material is considered a material of choice for more than 25 years around the world for its diverse aesthetic and superb performance capabilities. This transparent film provides unlimited versatile designing options for its flexibility, light weight and transparency that have made it accepted worldwide. In every architectural program whether corporate sectors or governmental complexes, from hospital, stadium to highly secured governmental headquarters ETFE is being increasingly used.

In other fields

�    In the nuclear industry, it is popularly used as cable wraps or for tie and in the aerospace industry

it is mostly used for wire coatings. It is because it provides high energy radiation resistance, better mechanical strength than PTFE and has the capability to withstand moderately high temperature for a long time.

�    It is also highly temperature resistant and for that ETFE is used as a mold release film.

�    ETFE is even used in vessels, pipes and tanks as a thermoplastic liner which is dual laminate and can protect additional corrosion.

�    ETFE is also used in the cover of electrical and fiber optic wiring.

So, it can be said that ETFE membrane tensile is a fabric architecture that makes unparalleled structural imagination and materializes it under the architectural spotlight.