W.L.Gore & Associates, Inc.

Fabrics
GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric
GORE-TEX® Fabrics
Microwave Fabrics
Organic Waste Treatment
Public Safety Fabrics
Military Fabrics
Fire & Safety Service Fabrics
GORE™ Cleanroom Garments
 

 

Other Gore Products
Consumer Products
Cables & Cable Assemblies
Electronic & Electrochemical Materials
Fibers
Filtration
Geochemical Services
Pharmaceutical
Medical / Healthcare
Sealants
Venting

 
> Browse by Industry
> Product Finder

 

Home > Products > Fabrics > GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric > Frequently Asked Questions

GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric made of?
  2. What is PTFE?
  3. How is GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric different from “PTFE/glass” fabrics?
  4. Does GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric protect one from UV?
  5. How does GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric impact the environment?
  6. How long will it last?
  7. Isn’t GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric, simply ‘GORE-TEX®’ Fabric?
  8. Can I print on GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric?
  9. Can GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric be welded?
  10. Can I get GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric in colors?

 

What is GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric made of?

GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric is made of a base fabric of woven high strength expanded PTFE fibers.  In the case of our coated/waterproof fabrics, additional coatings are applied to render it completely waterproof. 

What is PTFE?

PTFE stands for PolyTetraFluoroEthylene, the most inert polymer known.   Chemically, it consists of a polymer chain ‘backbone’ of carbon with fluorine bonds.  These bonds are exceptionally strong and are the reason for PTFE’s exceptional resistance to UV, chemicals, etc.  PTFE is commonly used in very low (cryogenic) temperatures, as well as very high temperatures in a wide variety of industrial, pharmaceutical, medical and consumer products.  PTFE is considered part of a larger family of ‘fluoropolymers’

How is GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric different from “PTFE/glass” fabrics?

Commonly described as ‘PTFE/glass or PTFE/fiberglass’ fabrics, these fabrics utilize a base fabric of somewhat brittle fiberglass fibers which are then coated with fluoropolymers.  Unlike fiberglass fibers which can break when folded and flexed, GORE™ TENARA® Architectural fabric can withstand repeated folding and flexing without compromising its strength or waterproofness.

Does GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric protect one from UV?

It depends on the fabric.  The 3T20 and 4T20 fabrics block nearly 100% of UV, while the other GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabrics block the same proportional amount of visible light they transmit.  (refer to Technical Data, Light Characteristics for the Transmittance, Reflectance and Absorption Characteristics).

How does GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric impact the environment?

GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric is free of chlorine, plasticizers, stabilizer, and catalysts.  Furthermore, there is no contribution to ozone depletion (CFC’s) or chloro/bromo-dioxins and furans (“dioxins”).   Provided it is uncontaminated, GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric can be recycled by returning it to Gore.  For additional details, refer to Environmental Impact under Technical Data.

How long will it last?

Because GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric is made from 100% fluoropolymers (which are unaffected by UV sunlight, pollution, etc.) it will not break down like other materials with exposure to the sun.  Consequently the expected life is 25+ years, with a full 15 year warranty (see it for details).

Isn’t GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric, simply ‘GORE-TEX®’ Fabric?

No, GORE TENARA Architectural Fabric is not designed to ‘breathe’ like the GORE-TEX® Fabrics because of it functional use as building roof covering.

Can I print on GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric?

Yes, it has been successfully printed.  Contact Gore for more information.

Can GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric be welded?

It depends on the fabric.  All our Coated/Waterproof fabrics can be welded using conventional welding methods and equipment (refer to Technical Data on Seaming Recommendations). However, our woven fabrics can only be fabricated using a more conventional seaming method of sewing.  In this instance, we highly recommend utilizing GORE™ TENARA® Sewing Thread, as it is comprised of the same material and will be comparable in life to the fabric.

Can I get GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric in colors?

Yes, Gore can manufacture custom colors of fabric.  Clients can expect this process (from submitting a color swatch and order to receiving finished fabric) to last approximately 4 months.  Minimum orders for custom fabrics are relatively small, approximately 250 meters, or 280 yards.


 

 
Solutions Center
> Data Sheet (2)
> Technical Information (4)
> FAQ
> Contact Us
> Warranty Information


> Document Library


 
 

Site Map     Privacy Policy and Legal Information

© Copyright 2008 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.