They are sometimes mistakenly confused and interchanged with each other, or even considered the same thing by laypeople, but they are actually two very similar materials but composed of two different types of polymers, each with its own specific characteristics.

What are the differences between ETFE and PTFE?

The main difference between ETFE and PTFE lies in the chemical composition.

ETFE stands for Ethylene-Tetrafluoro-Ethylene, a thermoplastic polymer containing fluorine atoms, which, due to their exceptionally strong bonding, result in a transparent plastic material capable of withstanding high levels of thermal stress and chemical aggression.

The ETFE film material is formed directly from the material and has good durability, ease of cleaning and stability. Being a film, it does not have a fabric core and is currently the most advanced in the world.

PTFE, which stands for Poly-Tetrafluoro-Ethylene, is a chemically inert material that uses glass fiber as the base material to form a membrane. PTFE is also characterized by excellent durability, mechanical strength, flexibility and ease of cleaning.

ETFE is resistant to a temperature range of -70℃ to 220℃, while PTFE has a slightly higher range of -80°C to 260°C.

The two material’s chemical and corrosion resistances are very similar, as is its resistance to weathering, while ETFE’s resistance to creep and compression are better than that of PTFE.

Both materials are characterized by their light weight and ability to absorb large amounts of infrared light, a quality that can be exploited to improve a building’s energy consumption. In addition, both ETFE and PTFE are found to be immune to ultraviolet rays, pollution and other environmental weathering, including sea spray, and thus are distinguished by their long service life.

The materials have been extensively studied and tested in laboratory and field environments, concluding that no loss of strength or discoloration of ETFE and PTFE covers has occurred over time.

Among the advantages of ETFE are its high transparency: it can transmit up to 95 percent of outdoor light and has been chosen for projects such as stadiums with grass surfaces, where full-spectrum natural light and light transmission are essential to support plant growth.

ETFE film has higher light transmission and better chemical resistance than PTFE film, along with strong resistance to natural aging.

In contrast, because ETFE film is formed directly from plastic without a substrate, its tensile strength and tear strength do not reach the levels of those of PTFE film.

The diameter of the glass fiber that forms the substrate of the fabric of the PTFE membrane material is between 3.30 and 4.05 μm and its weight is greater than 150 g/m.

A wide range of PTFE material types are available, including PTFE-coated glass fiber of different thickness and strength and PTFE glass fiber mesh.

The main characteristic of PTFE is its ability to be extremely durable and tolerant to even the most extreme weather conditions: PTFE fiberglass membranes can be installed in climates ranging from Arctic cold to scorching desert heat with a very long life expectancy.

Properties of PTFE

• Resistance: PTFE-coated covers are chemically inert and capable of withstanding temperatures from -80°C to +260°C
• Lightness: its weight can be defined as a small fraction of traditional building materials
• Strength: the average thickness of a PTFE membrane is only 0.8 mm, but its tensile strength is equal to that of steel
• Modelability: its elastic modulus is low, favoring the possibility of modeling complex curved surfaces
• Weldability: each PTFE membrane can be welded to another, up to form large surfaces
• Self-cleaning: the low surface of the material is cleaned by rainwater
• Shading: the light transmission of PTFE membranes is very high, but without the passage of UV rays, preventing fading of materials and decorations
• Reduced consumption: by using PTFE-coated glass fibers energy savings can be realized, and in addition, the high reflection performance ensures excellent lighting effect even in the dark, reducing consumption.

Use of PTFE membranes

PTFE architectural membranes are widely used for the construction of roofing systems for stadiums, swimming pools and sports fields, tensile structures, airport pavilions, exhibition centres, platforms, facades, canopies, roofs.

Canobbio Textile has made numerous PTFE designs for different types of covers, including the tensile structure of the velodrome Abuja Nigeria, consisting of 36 panels in PTFE highly durable trapezoidal shape, for a capacity of 6,000 spectators, and the marquee at the archaeological area of Caposoprano in Gela, protecting the famous Thymoleon walls, ancient Greek fortifications that constitute a very important archaeological record of the defensive system that surrounded the hill on which the ancient city stood.

For any project that can be realized in PTFE, contact us without obligation for a quote.