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| The main types used today in building include PTFE, ETFE, TFA/PFA, THV, FEP and PVDF. The individual fluoropolymer combinations are better known by their trade names, such as Teflon, Hostaflon, Polyflon, Toyoflon or Tedlar. They are extremely resistant to chemical and biological attack as well as to long-term expo-sure to the weather and UV radiation. Coatings are, therefore, not necessary as a means of preserving the fabric, but they may be required to create a watertight surface. Coated fabrics of this kind consist of a combination of two different fluoropolymer substances – for the fabric and the coating. In view of the maximum breaking strength of coated ETFE membranes (approx. 1,200 N/5cm), their weight (250 g/m 2 ) and the low strength of welded seams, the use of this material is limited to small spans or internal situations. | |
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| Coated ETFE is permeable to diffuse (low-glare) light in the daylight spectrum, which results in pleasant indoor conditions. This can be seen in the Daimler-Chrysler Design Centre in Sindelfingen, where the permeability to light of the THV-coated ETFE fabric is up to 90% – a value that cannot be achieved with any other fully coated membrane. The fact that coated fluoropolymer fabrics lend themselves to many material combinations and can be easily modified, means that they have a great potential in the field of membrane structures. |
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