Fluon ETFE Films Revolutionize the Building Industry

Updated: Mar 20, 2024 | Blog, ETFE film, Products for Buildings, Structures and Architecture

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The last time you looked through the roof from inside a stadium, you might have been looking through Fluon® ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) Film instead of glass. Developed uniquely by AGC, this innovative architectural material is lighter and safer than glass. It also has other advantages such as improved energy efficiency, durability, and self-cleaning properties, making it a high-performance building material for creating modern facades, roofs, and membrane structures.

Used worldwide, Fluon ETFE Film not only contributes to iconic structures but also revolutionizes the building industry with its distinctive features and properties. With various color and print options available, architects have more design choices and sustainable alternatives to create contemporary and visually appealing structures with bright and spacious interiors.

In recent years, this ultra-strong fluoropolymer has been used in some very notable projects such as:

• The membrane structure surface of the “Allianz Arena” soccer stadium in Munich, Germany
• The roof of a renovated terminal at Tokyo Haneda Airport

What is Fluon ETFE Film?

Fluon® ETFE film is a high-performance fluoropolymer film manufactured by AGC using its own raw materials and an in-house film-forming process. While it shares some appealing properties with other fluoropolymers, it surpasses them because of its exceptional mechanical strength, transparency, elasticity, and moldability.

Available in a range of thicknesses and finishes, from 100-500 µm, this translucent polymer also provides light transmittance options exceeding 90%. Apart from its widespread use in building structures, the outstanding qualities of ETFE make it suitable for various other applications.

Superior Alternative to Glass

The robust mechanical strength of Fluon ETFE Film makes it a viable replacement for glass. This enables the creation of flexible, lightweight structures with heat, chemical and UV resistance.

Being a translucent material, ETFE Film permits more natural light into buildings compared to glass, thereby reducing electricity usage for lighting and heating.  This translates to more sustainable buildings with lower energy costs. Additionally, ETFE film provides excellent thermal insulation and heat retention.

Because it is so lightweight, ETFE film requires less structural support, which reduces building time and costs. Moreover, aesthetically pleasing colored film and print options improve the look and feel of indoor environments, while diffused light options enhance the overall user experience. Introducing backlighting systems enables a range of color variations.

Attributes of Fluon ETFE Film

Other outstanding characteristics of Fluon ETFE film include:

• Weatherability: ETFE film remains unaffected by UV degradation, because UV rays transmit through the film without causing any harm. Accelerated wear tests spanning 16,000 hours (equivalent to over 30 years of exposure) exhibited no signs of ETFE film deterioration.
• Excellent mechanical properties: This includes high tensile strength (the amount of material that can stretch before breaking) and tear resistance. At room temperature, tensile elongation exceeds 400%, rising to over 600% at 100°C.
• Heat resistance: ETFE film maintains stable mechanical and electrical properties across temperature ranges of -200-200 °C. It meets UL 94 VTM-) standards for thicknesses of150µm and above.
• High tear strength: ETFE film will not tear easily, even when scratched.
• Flexibility: With 100% recovery when stretched 2 ½%, ETFE film allows for the creation of free-form shapes.
• Chemical and soil resistance: The film stands up to nearly all chemical substances, including strong acid and alkaline solutions.
• Contamination-free: Composed with virtually no additives or plasticizers, the film will not contaminate products or devices.
• Lightweight: A 250-micron film weighs under one pound per square meter.
• Low Maintenance: It possesses self-cleaning properties, reducing maintenance costs.
• Flame Resistant: ETFE film does not support combustion, making it a safe option in fire-prone environments.

Energy Savings and Sustainability

ETFE films are recyclable, setting them apart from traditional plastics. With exceptional durability, these films maintain performance over years without degradation, making them an eco-friendly option across various applications.

ETFE films are energy-efficient, providing superior insulation that slashes energy consumption, potentially reducing costs by up to 30% compared to glass alternatives. It allows ample daylight into interior spaces while shielding them from external temperatures. Additionally, multi-layer film configurations enhance thermal insulation, offering customizable options for light transmission and solar heat control.

This eBook showcases four innovative buildings that use ETFE film.

Applications beyond Buildings and Structures

Fluon ETFE films are not only suitable for architectural use. They provide cost-effective solutions with enhanced performance when compared to other conventional materials.  Their diverse properties make them the material of choice in many different applications including:

• Release film for electronics fabrication and semiconductor manufacturing
• Top sheet and noise absorbers for solar cells
• Top coat for wallpaper or furniture
• Printed circuit boards
• Interior finishing

Innovative Product Offerings

In addition to its standard grades, AGC offers some product alternatives with its Fluon ETFE films:

• Diffused Light – scatters light transmission to reduce shadowing in a structure.
• UV Cut – reduces the impact of UV by cutting the UV transmission rate through the film.
• Frit Ink – Higher reflection, seal coat for frit protection.
• Low Haze – reduces 12% haze down to 6%
• Higher Strength – extend yield points to provide different performance characteristics by strengthening the film.
• Digital Prints – allows for custom appearance options beyond customer printing

AGC is also developing an IR-absorbing film, which is currently in testing. To find out more about Fluon ETFE Films, watch this webinar, visit the ETFE Films web page, or contact an AGC product expert to discuss its potential use in an upcoming application.