Greenhouse covering material
a. Glass
- Most traditional and constructed with slanted sides, straight and caves
- Aluminum frame and glass cladding buildings provide low maintenance and have aesthetic lines, as well as light structure.
- Disadvantages: Fragile and high costs. Low humidity due to air leakage, so, necessary to humidify glass greenhouses.
Â
b. Fiber glass
- Light, strong and hail-proof
- Low quality fiberglass will discolor, reducing penetration of light
- Good quality fiberglass; expensive as glass
Â
c. Plastic cover (Polyethylene)
- Commonly used plastic; thermoplastic
- Soften on heating and hardens with cooling and the process is reversible
- Stiff, robust, resist and recover from loads and deformations
- Water condensation problem, due to temperature difference outside and inside which cause damp, wet environment and disease development
- Condensation reduces light intensity within greenhouse
Â
d. Plastic cover (Polyvinyl chloride film)
- UV resistant vinyl films; durable 4-5 years
- Polyethylene: 1-2 years
- High cost than polythene
- The vinyl films tend to hold a static electric charge due to which it attracts and holds the dust
Â
f. Tefzel T2 film ( Ethylene tetra fluoro ethylene)
- Recent addition of plastic covering
- Used as transparent covering on solar collector
- Life expectancy : 20 years or more
- Light transmission is 95% ( single) and 90% double layer
- High heat trapping capacity: reduce cost of cooling
- Disadvantage: Only available low width rolls (1.5 m)
Â
g. Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) rigid panel
- High life expectancy : 10-20 years
- Corrugated panels: greater strength
- Panels are flexible enough to conform shape Quonset greenhouse
- Resistant: Hails and other damages
Â
h. Acrylic and polycarbonate rigid panel
- Side walls, end walls and for retrofitting old greenhouses
- Acrylic: More rigid, highly inflammable, popular due to high light transmission and longer life
- Polycarbonate: Less rigid than acrylic, low price, flame resistance and resistance to hail damage
- Available with coating to prevent condensation