ETFE, which is short for ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, is becoming the most common polymer for building different structures. Where an etfe canopy is used as a protectant for your solar panels, it is also used in the aerospace industry to protect cables.
Nowadays, the ETFE is becoming more and more popular due to its countless benefits. Let’s take a look at the handful of advantages this emerging polymer provides.
Eco-Friendly
Industrial products are best when they provide the best performance and remain eco-friendly as well. As a comment on the controversy, ETFE is not biodegradable. However, its 100% recyclability marks it well on the eco-friendly scale.
Lightness
The next most admired feature of this polymer is its remarkable lightness. Compared to other materials used as protectants, it only weighs from 0.15 to 0.35 kg per square meter. Note that this proportion is significantly less than per square weight of glass, 25 kg. Therefore, EFTE is a pronounced substitute for glass structures.
Less Replacement More Strength
The EFTE is marked stronger than glass, and it is rightfully so. The EFTE doesn’t need many replacements. An ETFE sheet can be patched in the torn areas easily. However, patch fixes do not hold for glass structures since it needs complete replacement.
Additionally, an ETFE sheet has a long service life of up to 25 years.
Fire Enduring
The next most common feature of an ETFE structure is its enduring towards fire. Even under high temperatures, the sheets shrink without dripping. Contrary to other insulating materials, it is less dangerous, lightweight, and non-shattering.
Climate Adaptableness
ETFE has a melting point of about 275 Celsius; this makes it well suited to all kinds of climates. It provides stability in the temperature range from -200 to 150 Celsius easily. Even if the weather conditions are not very mild, it has a life of 15 years, as the experts claim.
Good Light Transmission Scale
ETFE provides a good degree of light transmission. But this transmissibility depends upon the color of the sheet. For transparent EFTEs the transmissibility is about 95%. However, it significantly reduces to 50 to 55% for white EFTs.
Although, the patterns and printings on the structures can be changed according to the needed light in the building.
Structural Strength
One of the biggest advantages of the EFTE is that it is highly flexible and stable. It provides a stretch of 200 to 300% to its original length. It also has good tensile strength.
EFTE has three layers. The outer being the most stressed, the inner layer lightly stressed, and the middle layer with no stress. This arrangement creates a cushion effect allowing the material to bend into curves and circles, unlike glass.
Conclusion
EFTE was developed in 1930 but back then it was primarily used for aerospace industries. However, these days it has found its way into other architectural and industrial sectors also.
It is a good substitute for glass due to its enduring and flexible nature. One biggest go of the EFTE is that it is shatterproof when exposed to harsh temperatures. Compared to glass this makes it a more reliable choice for all structural applications.
