New Functional Materials - Comparison of ETFE and PTFE

ETFE is a fluorine-containing polymer thermoplastic material, is a high-strength fluoropolymer, with good durability, easy cleaning, and stability. PTFE is a chemically inert material. The glass fiber as the substrate to form PTFE membrane. PTFE also has excellent durability, stability, and easy cleaning characteristic. The fire resistance of ETFE film and PTFE film can reach the B1 level, so they can be used for the flame retardant material.

Features of ETFE

1. The pre-tension strength can be applied.

2. Has resistance to temperature changes, can be directly exposed to the temperature of -200 ℃ -150 ℃.

3. The light transmittance can be as high as 95%. The translucency of the material can be further reduced to 50% by surface printing.

4. Has the characteristics of anti-high pollution and easy to clean, the rain can usually remove the main dirt.

5. ETFE is a completely recyclable material. After the separation of impurities, it can produce other ETFE products.

6. Has corrosion resistance, has a unique adhesion characteristic with the metal so that ETFE (F-40) and metal are the ideal composite material.

7. ETFE film life of at least 25 to 35 years.

Features of PTFE

1. PTFE is characterized by high strength. Medium strength PTFE film has the thickness of only 0.8mm, but its tensile strength has reached the level of steel.

2. The use of a wide temperature range of -70 ℃ ~ 230 ℃.

3. Has unique optical performance. At the daytime, incident light will become natural light, to prevent dazzling, no shadow, light evenly distributed, almost no UV transmission, to prevent the internal decoration materials and equipment from fading. At night, high reflection performance makes the room with excellent lighting effects, reducing power consumption. Has a high light transmittance of 13%.

4. Self-cleaning is good, the rain can wash away the surface attachment.

5. The service life of more than 25 years.

As the ETFE film is directly made from the plastic film, so its tensile strength is weaker than the  PTFE, and the one-time investment and maintenance costs are high, so fewer manufacturers has the ability to produce ETFE film. However, PTFE has a very wide range of applications, including all types of sports buildings, exhibition buildings, airport buildings, and facilities, etc.

If you are interested in the PTFE, I will recommend you this Teflon film sheet which is made of PTFE and not expensive at all. It can be used in many ways as it is hardness material of high strength and high/low temperature/corrosion resistant and very durable.