Architecture
Improving the energy efficiency and enhancing the safety of Europe’s building stock.
The importance of fluoropolymers for the sector
Their unique combination of properties makes fluoropolymers a product of choice for many challenging applications in architecture. Fluoropolymer coatings provide resistance to fire, water, weather and even corrosive chemicals, thus ensuring that goods can stay in service for longer. They reduce waste as well as energy consumption, specifically within the architecture and transport sectors.
Architectural design plays an important role in Europe’s “creative industry” and the Commission has committed to supporting this sector under the Creative Europe pillar of its work programme.
Unique properties of fluoropolymers and their benefits for the sector
The unique properties of fluoropolymers enable significant innovation and energy saving. When used in specific coatings systems they can reduce building cooling costs and the associated energy use by 4% up to 22%, depending on other parameters.
Their non-wetting and non-stick properties and light weight provide a number of benefits including:
Increased lifetime of the product or building component, even in extreme environments
Reduced maintenance of building structures
Novel architectural designs requiring flexibility and thin materials
Weight reduction of building structures
Improved fire safety - No flame propagation and low smoke generation
Improving energy efficiency of buildings
Fluoropolymers and the future of the industry
Fluoropolymers are key enablers of innovation in the creative industry and have been irreplaceable in the development of new “landmark” designs.
- “Signature” buildings: O2 Dome in London, the Sony Centre in Berlin, Eden project in Cornwall, UK.
- Novel design solutions: Wimbledon Centre Court retractable roof, Allianz Arena in Munich with changeable light facade, San Mamés stadium in Bilbao.
- Air filtration for Gas Turbines: highly efficient in capturing virtually all particles even in challenging wet and humid conditions over a long lifetime in comparison to other filter systems.
Applications
- Architectural films. Films from fluoropolymers such as ETFE are used as parts of the roofs in stadia, domes and other structures
- Fluoropolymer coated glass fabric roofs, and laminated coatings
- PTFE Woven Fabric
- Fluoropolymer-based paints
- Bridge and offshore bearing pads. Made from fluoropolymers as they provide the lowest friction coefficient of all plastics
- “Cool Roof” technology