Interfine® acrylic polysiloxane to reduce energy consumption

When it was awarded the Olympic Games for 2008, Beijing busily prepared the venues needed to host this prestigious event.

Designed to reduce energy consumption, the National Aquatics Centre, known as the 'Water Cube', employed the use of International Protective Coatings' Interfine® acrylic polysiloxane to provide high impact aesthetics that would last beyond the closing ceremony.

Built on the Olympic Green, the Water Cube has a capacity of 17,000 people and hosted the swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events during the Olympics. Covering a total land surface of 65,000m2 the centre was initially designed by the consortium of PTW Architects, CSCEC International Design and engineering firm Arup and was built by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC).

The project brief required extensive use of digital technology, energy reduction and water-saving methods, as well as incorporating new construction materials. Playing on the geometry of water bubbles to form a rectangular shape, the design was created to work in harmony with the circular shape of the main Olympic Stadium.

The structure of the Water Cube is a steel framework consisting of two parts; the internal and external. The internal frame is based on 'soap bubbles' known as the Weaire-Phelan structure where a recurring pattern is packed together to occupy a three dimensional space in the most efficient way possible.

While the design is simple, it is organic and very unique. The external structure forms the roof and ceiling and comprises a flat web of rectangular boxed sections; covered with the inflatable transparent 'teflon' material known as ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene).

ETFE is designed to have high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature range. Compared to glass, ETFE film is 1% the weight, transmits more light, costs less to install, can bear 400 times its own weight, is self cleaning and recyclable.

The building required 100,000 m2 of ETFE, making the Water Cube the largest ETFE structure in the world. By using ETFE, high levels of natural sunlight are allowed into the building, which in turn reduces its overall energy consumption on a day to day basis. As swimming pools need to be heated, 20% of solar energy is trapped within the building heating both the interior area and pool water.

As the Water Cube has a moist and humid environment, it was vital the structural steel had a protective coating which offered corrosion protection while providing a high aesthetic appearance.  Due to a very successful track record in a number of Olympic projects, International Paint were chosen by contractors CSCEC to supply a three coat system including, Interzinc® 52, Intergard® 475HS and Interfine 878.

Interfine acrylic polysiloxane was chosen because, compared to traditional polyurethanes, it offers up to four times more colour and gloss retention meaning long life to first maintenance and a reduction in VOC emissions (Volatile Organic Compounds) at application and year on year.

To learn more about Interfine visit International Paint’s website by clicking here: Interfine Polysiloxane.