Definition:
ETFE stands for Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene, a transparent polymer that is used instead of glass and plastic in some modern buildings. Compared to glass, ETFE:
- Transmits more light
- Insulates better
- Costs 24% to 70% less to install
- Is only 1/100 the weight of glass
- ETFE is strong enough to bear 400 times its own weight
- ETFE can be stretched to three times its length without loss of elasticity
- ETFE can be repaired by welding patches over tears
- ETFE has a nonstick surface that resists dirt
- ETFE is expected to last as long as 50 years
- ETFE transmits more sound than glass, and can be too noisy for some places
- ETFE is usually applied in several layers that must be inflated and require steady air pressure
- Working with ETFE is too complex for small residential projects
Examples:
- The Water Cube, the National Aquatic Centre in Beijing, China
- Eden Project in Cornwall, England
