ETFE: the material of the future for transparent architecture

ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) is one of the most fascinating and promising materials in contemporary architecture. Light as paper, strong as steel, transparent as glass: this fluorinated molecule is revolutionizing how we think about building envelopes.

What is ETFE

ETFE is a fluorinated copolymer originally developed for aerospace applications in the 1970s. Thanks to its exceptional chemical and physical properties, it found architectural application from the 1990s onwards.

Technical Properties

Weight: only 0.4-1.5 kg/m², compared to 15-25 kg/m² for glass. Transparency: up to 95% visible light transmission. UV resistance: no degradation under UV exposure for 25-35+ years.