What is ethylene tetrafluoroethylene used for?
ETFE is commonly used in the nuclear industry for tie or cable wraps and in the aviation and aerospace industries for wire coatings. This is because ETFE has better mechanical toughness than PTFE.
What is ETFE membrane?
ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer) is a plastic derivative that is frequently used as a building material in the form of ETFE membranes. The material is characterized by high light and UV transmittance, temperature resistance and very low weight.
How is ETFE connected?
ETFE cushions consist of two or more layers of film that are welded together at the edge. The cushions may vary in shapes and sizes, depending on weather loads (snow, wind, rain) and building geometry. The edge is clamped with a keder, which is a cord welded into a narrow pocket.
What is the difference between PTFE and ETFE?
PTFE is constructed from carbon and fluorine atoms whereas ETFE is built from carbon, fluorine and hydrogen. Giving advantages to using both. The tensile strength of ETFE can be as much as 38% greater than PTFE, meaning ETFE material can be subjected to harsher operating conditions than its counterpart.
What is ETFE insulation?
What is ETFE? ETFE, also known as, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, insulated wires, and cables display excellent material toughness, electrical properties and good resistance to heat, flame, and chemical radiation.
What type of polymerisation makes PTFE?
The other homopolymers and co-polymers containing fluorine are, like PTFE, made by free-radical polymerization.
Is ETFE sustainable material?
This article aims to review the applications of ETFE foils in buildings as a sustainable construction material. According to literature reviews found that using of ETFE in construction can reduce the amount of raw material used, reduce building time, and reduce building costs.
How strong is ETFE?
ETFE is Ethylene and TFE Therefore, ETFE is the material of choice in structures such as greenhouses, buildings and sports stadiums like the Allianz Stadium in Munich, the Eden Project in the UK and the Beijing Olympic swimming stadium. Very strong. Holds up to 400 times its own weight.
What is ETFE building material?
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) is one of the most promising polymer that can be used in building textiles due to its high melting temperature, excellent radiation, electrical and chemical resistance properties. Also, ETFE is a transparent material and has an approximate 85-95% light transmission.
How transparent is ETFE?
ETFE foil is a naturally translucent material and transmits light across the entire visible light region (380-780nm). A single layer of medium weight ETFE has a light transmission of approximately 90-95% light transmission, with only a small reduction when multiple layers are added.
What is the difference between FEP and PTFE?
FEP, or Fluoroethylenepropylene, is the melt-processable version of PTFE. FEP has very similar properties to PTFE, but has a lower maximum operating temperature of +200°C. However, FEP can be more easily processed and can be easily welded and re-moulded into complex profiles.
Is ETFE hydrophobic?
Hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties ETFE has a very low absorption rate of 0.03%, thus making it impossible to absorb water. This hydrophobic property is the cause that ETFE films are not affected by water, even when submerged in boiling water for hours, days, or months!
How is PTFE synthesized?
The TFE must be synthesized out of chloroform (trichloromethane), hydrofluoric acid, and fluorspar. These ingredients are combined in a process known as pyrolysis. TFE is highly flammable and its transportation is very risky. Therefore, this step must be performed on-site where the final product (PTFE) is created.
Which polymer is produced from the radical polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene?
polytetrafluoroethylene
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is the fluorinated straight-chain polymer, made by the polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene monomer; it is used widely because of its excellent performance and can be obtained by the polymerization of body, solutions, suspensions, and emulsions.
Can ETFE be recycled?
ETFE sheets are easily dismantled and are recyclable, with 100% of the material being recycled into new ETFE materials and products (Ref 11).
Is ETFE foil environmentally friendly?
The membrane is generally unaffected by UV rays, pollution, and weathering. Eco-Friendly –ETFE foils are ideal for environmentally conscious projects. The membrane is 100% recyclable.
Does ETFE block UV rays?
ETFE roofs or canopies allow the transmission of almost the entire UV spectrum (95 percent).
How sustainable is ETFE?
Sustainability. The fact that ETFE doesn’t degrade under; UV light, sunlight, weather or pollution, means that ETFE could have a life of around more than 50 years (Ref 12).
Is ETFE environmentally friendly?
More Efficient than Glass These measures include energy savings, emissions reduction, water efficiency and indoor environmental quality. ETFE film is safer and lighter in weight than glass, so it requires less structural support. This means buildings using ETFE use fewer heavy materials like steel.
Is FEP more flexible than PTFE?
Also, FEP tubing is more flexible than PTFE and has superior dielectric strength. Following FEP, PFA tubing came to be in the late 1960s due to a need for a resin with chemical and the use of temperatures closer to PTFE.
What is ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE)?
In 1973, the Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) was commercialized by DuPont. ETFE is a partially fluorinated copolymer of ethylene and Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE). The crystallinity of ETFE ranges from 40% to 60%, and it has a melting temperature of 225–300°C depending on the comonomer ratio and the processing method.
What temperature can ETFE membranes be used at?
ETFE membrane is suitable for use at temperatures of up to 155°C, making it a versatile solution to your construction needs. Do you want more detailed information about ETFE membranes?
What is the crystallinity of ETFE?
The crystallinity of ETFE ranges from 40% to 60%, and it has a melting temperature of 225–300°C depending on the comonomer ratio and the processing method. Further, the ratio of the two monomers are varied to obtain several grades of ETFE with optimized properties for specific end applications.
What is the difference between PTFE and ETFE roofing?
While ETFE is most commonly utilized as an architects ‘future roof’ material, PTFE is more common in the construction industry as a highly specialized water resistant film most often used in insulation and as a friction and heat reduction solution.