DuPont laminated glass interlayer for airport

Combined protection: DuPont Teflon films and DuPont Butacite PVB laminated glass interlayer for Bangkok International Airport.

Prior to its completion in 2006, the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok had already become a national symbol of Thailand.

The unique construction, based on a wide-spanning structural system and designed by architects Murphy/Jahn of Chicago, USA, is a prime example of modern architecture.

DuPont Butacite PVB interlayer for laminated safety glass and fabric coatings of DuPont Teflon PTFE help achieve the highest standards in terms of incidence of light, acoustics, climate and security for the building envelope.

Teflon makes membrane module weather-resistant.

The arch-covered departure gates at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport combine glass with unique structural-membrane sections.

102 of the 108 panels in the membrane sections, planned and constructed by Hightex of Rimsting/Germany, consist of an outer-skin, an intermediate ply and an inner-skin.

The six end panels are single-layered.

"What we are doing here is really an advancement of traditional tented architecture, using the most modern of materials," says Klaus-Michael Koch, managing director of the Hightex Group.

"The area of 110,000 m2, created during this first development phase for the airport, is actually the largest tri-layered textile roof in the world." The outer-skin consists of 'Skytop' fibreglass fabric from Chukoh Chemical Industries ., Japan, who coated the fabric with Teflon PTFE.

The fabric grade FTG 800 was used for the 102 membrane arches and the grade FTG 1000, a particularly heavy product, for the six end panels.

The outer-skin provides weather protection and is particularly noted for its high reflectance, extremely high tear strength, dirt-repellent surface, low-flammability and longevity.

Air chambers beneath the outer-skin help prevent it from pressing against the intermediate ply during wind gusts.

The ply consists of highly-transparent polycarbonate sheets of fire-class B1, which are screwed onto a steel cable netting.

With a mass per unit area of 7.2 kg/m, the sheets contribute significantly to the acoustic insulation provided by the roofing construction by up to 35 dB.

Moreover, the intermediate ply absorbs the majority of the load transfer.

The inner-skin, visible from the departure gates, is a translucent, open-pored fibreglass fabric with a metallized coating, which acts as an infra-red filter.

It prevents the fabric, which is exposed to high levels of solar heat, from emitting that heat into the building.

Butacite for a high degree of transparency, safety and protection.

More than 200,000 m2 of laminated glass is used in the airport - of which 34,000 m2 of laminated glass with Butacite interlayer is used in the main terminal facade alone.

A further 45,000 m2 is used in the skylight roof of the main terminal, making it the most extensive use of laminated glass for a skylight roof in the world.

According to Tom Chambers, principal architect at Murphy/Jahn: "We used laminated glass throughout the airport's main terminal primarily because we wanted to achieve a great deal of transparency, both from the exterior and the interior, which could only be achieved with laminated glass".

"This is consistent with Murphy/Jahn's architectural design philosophy, which emphasises an integration of architecture and engineering, and an economic use of materials".

"The unique attributes of laminated glass, particularly with regard to its safety and acoustic qualities, make it essential to the nature of this building".

Laminated glass was used for the roof with varying patterns of white and black ceramic frit, whilst a low-emittance coating on the overhead glazing is used throughout the terminal.

Although the frit is barely perceptible to the naked eye, it helps control the solar heat gain and glare.

Moreover the Butacite PVB interlayer enhances acoustic performance and provides safe resistance to fallout in the event of glass breakage, or indeed explosions.

The laminated heat strengthened glass was used instead of toughened glass to alleviate the risk of spontaneous breakage due to nickel sulphide inclusions.

Beyond the afore-mentioned applications, a further 100,000 m2 of laminated glass is used in the glazing of the airport's five concourses, and 40,000 m2 of the same material is used outside the airport building in, for example, passenger loading bridges.

A bridge between tradition and modernism.

The large-scale use of laminated safety glass with Butacite PVB-interlayer and structural membranes with Teflon PTFE coating allows the airport building to benefit from ample daylight and a cool, pleasant atmosphere despite the tropical climate.

Through the rich usage of gardens and traditional decor, Thailand's new "portal to the world" also provides a bridge between the worlds of modern technology and local heritage.

Chukoh Chemical Industries, based in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading manufacturer of fluoropolymer-based products, including high-performance fluoropolymer-coated fibreglass fabrics for airport building roofs.

Hightex, based in Rimsting, Germany is amongst the world's most experienced constructors of membrane structures and has gained its international reputation through more than 500 planned and constructed membrane projects of varying sizes.

The portfolio of services provided by Hightex includes design, planning, manufacture, assembly, maintenance and servicing.

Hightex is represented in Europe, USA, Australia, Afrca and Asia.

DuPont Fluoropolymer Solutions is a leading producer of fluoropolymer resins, additives, films, finishes and dispersions, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PFA (perfluoroalkoxy), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene) and PVF (polyvinylfluoride), marketed under the registered trademarks DuPont Teflon, DuPont Tefzel, DuPont Tedlar and DuPont Zonyl.

Major markets for these fluoropolymer products include the automotive, chemical processing, semiconductor, oil exploration, chemical handling, data communication, aerospace, electronics, housewares and building industries.

DuPont Glass Laminating Solutions provides materials, services and innovations for a better, safer world.

The business operates within the DuPont Packaging and Industrial Polymers strategic business unit, part of DuPont's US$ 5.3 billion Performance Materials growth platform.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company.

Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.

Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

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