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Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene, or ETFE, has been in use for 15 years, however, it may soon experience a surge in notoriety thanks to its major role in the design and structure of both the Beijing National Stadium and Aquatics Center, which are being built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Related to Teflon, ETFE is a transparent plastic that has been selected in lieu of glass and plastic for the construction of many future-forward buildings and concepts.

ETFE can be made into glass-like sheets or inflated in pillows and is being used in some of the most innovative new buildings around the world.

...Compared to glass, it's 1% the weight, transmits more light, is a better insulator, and costs 24% to 70% less to install. It's also resilient (able to bear 400 times its own weight, with an estimated 50-year life-span), self-cleaning (dirt slides off its nonstick surface), and recyclable.

More info and a nice slide show at BusinessWeek.