Which is lighter, PTFE membrane material or ETFE membrane material

ETFE Membrane

As a lightweight polymer material, ETFE has a density of 1.75 g/cm³, making it highly advantageous for architectural roofing applications. Specifically:

• Its weight is just 1% of glass panels of equivalent size.
• The weight per square meter ranges between 0.15–0.35 kg, depending on thickness and structural design.
• This lightweight property allows ETFE to maintain structural integrity under extreme conditions (e.g., smoke, fire), enhancing building safety.

PTFE Membrane

While PTFE is also considered lightweight, it is notably heavier compared to ETFE:

• PTFE membranes use fiberglass fabric as the substrate, coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin to form a composite material.
• Its weight averages 1.5 kg/m², which remains far lighter than traditional building materials like steel or concrete.
• However, in direct comparison with ETFE, PTFE’s weight advantage diminishes due to its higher density (2.1–2.3 g/cm³) and layered composite structure.