Super durable plastic film tested for greenhouses

The aim of this research was to study the sensitivity of EVA and ETFE greenhouse films to solar radiation and to a few commonly available phytochemicals. In order to estimate the actual lifetime in a practical situation, field and laboratory tests were carried out. The field tests took place at the experimental farm of the University of Bari(Italy), artificial weathering tests were carried out in laboratory using the SAIREM SEPAP 12/24 apparatus. Four different EVA plastic films have been tested together with one ETFE film. The ETFE film did not show significant changes, even after an exposure of 9,800 hrs in the SAIREM SEPAP 12/24 apparatus. The test was corresponding to at least nine years in a 130- 160 kLy climatic area. The tensile strain was still very far from the limit of 50% of the original value. The results of the research showed that the use of ETFE films as covering material for greenhouses in place of EVA films can significantly reduce the quantity of waste generated in the medium to long term; the calculated reduction ratio were between five to ten times