**Introduction to Membrane Materials**
(1) **PTFE Membrane Material**: Made by combining a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating with a glass fiber substrate. PTFE membrane material is of superior quality and relatively expensive. (Chengdu Oupu Membrane Structure Landscape Engineering Co., Ltd., series including arched roofs, metal roofs, and membrane-steel structures)
(2) **PVC Membrane Material**: Made by combining a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coating with a polyester fiber substrate. PVC membrane material is widely used and moderately priced. (Chengdu Oupu Membrane Structure Landscape Engineering Co., Ltd., series including arched roofs, metal roofs, and membrane-steel structures)
(3) **PVC Membrane Material with Surface Layer**: This type of material has an additional coating of polyvinylidene fluoride or polyfluoride on the surface of PVC membrane material. It performs better than pure PVC membrane material and is slightly more expensive. (Chengdu Oupu Membrane Structure Landscape Engineering Co., Ltd., series including arched roofs, metal roofs, and membrane-steel structures)
**Mechanical Properties**
(Membrane materials from Chengdu Oupu Membrane Structure Landscape Engineering Co., Ltd., series including arched roofs, metal roofs, and membrane-steel structures)
- **Medium-strength PVC Membrane**: With a thickness of only 0.61mm, its tensile strength is equivalent to half that of steel.
- **Medium-strength PTFE Membrane**: With a thickness of only 0.8mm, its tensile strength reaches the level of steel.
The elastic modulus of membrane materials is low, which facilitates the formation of complex curved shapes.
**Advantages of Membrane Structures**, Fuyang tensioned membranes!
> **Self-cleaning Property - Always Maintaining Whiteness and Beauty**
The surface coating of PTFE membrane material uses polytetrafluoroethylene resin, similar to the non-stick coating on cookware we use daily. Its primary characteristic is its extremely high non-adhesive property, which can be experienced when using non-stick pans. The surface of PTFE membrane material does not easily adhere to dirt or dust, and the dust on its surface can be naturally washed away by rain. Therefore, it remains clean and aesthetically pleasing indoors even after long-term use.
> **Transparency - Bright Spaces Full of Natural Light**
During the day, sunlight passes through the membrane, filling the building with natural diffused light. At night, indoor lighting shines through the membrane, adding dreamlike nighttime scenery to the space. When membrane structures are used for sports arenas and entertainment facilities, they create ideal commercial spaces that combine comfort throughout the day.
> **Large Span - Column-free Large Space**
The membrane material used in membrane structure buildings is very lightweight, weighing only about 1 kilogram per square meter. Therefore, membrane structures can fundamentally overcome the difficulties encountered by traditional structures in column-free large-span buildings, creating vast column-free spaces.
> **Lightweight Structure - Strong Resistance to Disasters**
Compared to other building materials, membrane materials are much lighter. Buildings with membrane roofs have excellent earthquake resistance and safety. Moreover, during disasters, multi-functional facilities and stadiums with membrane structures can serve as temporary shelters, emergency centers, or disaster command headquarters due to their column-free and bright large spaces. Thus, membrane structures can protect people's safety in emergencies.
> **Comfortable Space - Free-form Design, Multi-purpose**
Membrane structures represent the most representative and promising architectural form of the 21st century. They break the mold of previous architectural forms, offering unique, novel, and diverse designs with elegant curves, becoming symbolic architecture in cities. Membrane structures provide various functions, applicable not only to sports, transportation, commercial, and public facilities but also to charming and personalized landscape features and iconic works. This offers architects and planners greater imagination and creative space.
> **Snow Management - Suitable for Snowy Regions**
In snowy regions, maintaining buildings to avoid damage from heavy snow requires significant human and financial resources. Reducing these costs is a challenge for technical personnel. The membrane roof of a membrane structure building is less likely to accumulate snow compared to other roofing materials; even with a small incline, snow will slide off automatically. Additionally, since PTFE membrane material has a low thermal conductivity, if snow-melting equipment is used, precise snow-melting operations can be performed, fully utilizing the heating device's efficiency, allowing for smaller roof slopes.
> **Fire Resistance and Durability - Ideal Building Membrane Material**
Membrane structures using PTFE membrane material possess characteristics such as heat resistance, climate resistance, drug resistance, high strength, and fireproofing. They do not age easily and maintain their initial strength even after long-term use. Membrane structures are divided into permanent membrane structures (membrane lifespan exceeding 25 years) and semi-permanent membrane structures (membrane lifespan of 10-15 years).