Evaluating the potential of low-e coated 3-layer ETFE pillows as an energy efficient building material

ETFE (Ethylene Tetra Fluoro Ethylene) is a lightweight polymer that is gradually gaining favor as an aesthetically pleasing building material, most commonly used by layering the foils to form ‘pillows’. Widespread use of this material, however, is hindered by its poor thermal insulation properties. The heat transmission properties of ETFE can be altered by adding a thin coating of low-emissivity material on top of the foil, as is currently done with glass for windows. This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the change in the heat insulation capabilities of 3-layer ETFE pillows when low emissivity coatings are added to the different layers in various configurations. Dymola simulation was used to generate the results and the low-e coated pillows were found to possess thermal insulation properties on par with modern glass panels and much superior compared to uncoated 3-layer and even coated 2-layer pillows.