Why ETFE? - Tuflite

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There was a time when greenhouses were made only
of glass the most traditional material that
was the only option people chose for building
transparent structures. But, there were many
issues that came along with the materials usage.
It was very heavy, yet not durable. It was
easily susceptible to cracking and breaking.
Furthermore, when cut or drilled, it produced
harmful toxic shards that are dangerous to the
eyes, nose, mouth, and skin. This made people
look for better alternatives. And, when ETFE came
to be known, it was proven that it is definitely
a better alternative to glass.
ETFE is a fluorine based plastic that provides
not complete, but at least 94 of transparency,
which is definitely not as clear as glass, but is
yet better. How? This is because it has many
other benefits over glass, which makes it a much
better alternative that can let us ignore the 6
of light that doesnt come through. Durability
ETFE has a life of 10-15 years, but if you are
lucky enough, it may even go up to 25-30 years,
with no signs of deterioration. In fact, some
people even expect it to last for 50- 60 years.
This is because ETFE is so strong that it can
bear 400 times its own weight, which means there
is no worry about any kind of damage as
such. Ease of working ETFE is 25-50 times
lighter than other alternative materials, which
makes it easy to handle and carry. Also, it can
be stretched up to three times its length without
loss of elasticity. This means it can be
stretched and formed into any kind of shape and
size, without
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any worry about damage. Moreover, it has a
working temperature range of -300F to 300F so
one can easily work with it at any
temperature. Heat retention ETFE is available
in two options ETFE film and ETFE cushion. When
ETFE cushions are used, more energy is saved and
heat retained, as compared to single ETFE
films. Dirt resistance ETFE has a low surface
tension, which means it is very easy to clean the
film, only with some water. And, in the case of
snow or dirt, all of this slides off easily,
which helps to maintain optimum light. Fire
resistance One of the best properties of ETFE
is that it is a self-extinguishing material!
When it catches fire, it extinguishes the fire
and opens up the space to let air pass through
into the structure, thus avoiding any kind of
suffocation and lack of oxygen within. Anti-drip
ETFE does not allow condensation to form that
can drip onto the plants, flowers, or fruits
within a greenhouse. If condensation drops are
formed, the sunlight is reduced, which reduces
the incoming light. Everything that comes with
great properties, definitely has some or the
other downside too. In the case of ETFE, where
we say that it is extremely durable and can carry
up to 400 times its own weight, the fact remains
that ETFE can be easily punctured with any sharp
edged equipment. However, the good news is that,
like any other material, you wont need to
replace the entire sheet in such a case. Instead,
if it is an ETFE film, you can just patch it up
with another ETFE patch and if it is an ETFE
cushion, you can just replace that one section of
the structure, leaving the rest of it intact.
Also, when you use ETFE cushions, you need to
keep them inflated, which requires steady air
pressure, and a constant watch over the
same. However, all in all, ETFE is much better
to work with as compared to other alternatives
like glass. So, whenever you are planning to
build your next transparent structure, consider
ETFE films or cushions. And, when you consider
ETFE, then you must consider Tuflite Polymers,
the best ETFE suppliers in India, who have
partnered with the world-class ETFE manufacturer,
Vector Foiltec to provide outstanding qualities
of ETFE throughout the Indian sub-continent.