Aluminum
- Location
- Materials
- Decorative & Functional
Aluminum
Considerations:
- Location
- Materials
- Decorative & Functional
- Location
Location
Consider how the metal will react in different temperature conditions. Expansion and contraction will occur during extreme temperature changes.
Some colors may fade if placed in direct sun light.
High traffic areas may require heaver duty material.
Materials:
Sheet Aluminum
Thicknesses easily formed
- .063 For trims and flashings
- .090 Good all around usage
- .125 High traffic areas, *Limited Bending Capabilities when Anodized
(Has a tendency to crack and or craze at 90 degree bends)
High Recycled Content
- Aluminum products typically have a high recycled content, in some cases as high as 100%
Long Life Cycle
- Rustproof and durable, aluminum can far outlast carbon steel and is ideal for challenging out door environments. Aluminum’s long life cycle benefits the environment as new material and energy resources will be needed far less often to replace corroded or failed products.
100% Recyclability
- The aluminum recycling infrastructure is extremely well-established. Aluminum products and components are fully recyclable and the value of aluminum scrap makes it extremely unlikely that aluminum will ever wind up in a landfill.
Light Weight
- Aluminum products tend to be lighter in weight than those made from other materials. Energy use and other impacts associated with transport and installation can often be lowered when aluminum products are specified.
Alloys:
3003 Alloy
- Medium Strength Alloy
- Good Formability
- Displays Some Corrosion Resistance
- Used for Decorative Architectural Products
5005 Alloy
- Medium Strength Alloy
- Excellent Anodizing Quality
- Class I for exterior applications
- Matches closely to 6063 Alloy Extrusions
- Used for Decorative Architectural Products
Aluminum Composite Materials:
- Used for Decorative Architectural Products
- Consists of 2 sheets .020” Aluminum Thermo bonded to a low density Polyethylene Core
- Available in 3mm,4mm and 6mm thickness’
- Extremely light weight
- Pre-finished Kynar Coating
- Limited color selection in small quantities
- Not recommended for high traffic areas
- Thickness’
- 3mm, least ridged of the three. Used mainly for decorative interior applications and exterior where no wind load is expected.
- 4mm, medium rigidity. Used in 90% of all applications for wall panels and column covers.
- 6mm, Very ridged. Used for high rise applications and where high wind loads are needed.
Expanded Aluminum
- Alternative to perforated aluminum
- Can be back-lighted
- Sound deadening can be applied for sound absorption
- Great application for column covers, wall panels, air vents
Powder Coating
Liquid paint is composed of pigment, resin, and solvent. Powder paint is simply pigment encapsulated in a powdered resin and is thus thought of as “Paint without the solvent”. It is applied using an electrostatic spray. The powder particles are electrically charged and the object requiring the coating is grounded. The result is an electrostatic attraction adequate to allow the build-up of sufficient film of powder on the object. The electrostatic attraction holds the dry powder in place until melting occurs with subsequent binding to the surface.
- Available in both interior and exterior grades
- Very hard and very durable
- Recommended thickness is 2.5 – 3.5 mils dry film thickness
- Limited to stock colors. Custom colors can be very expensive and long lead time
- Finish can be prone to “Orange Peel” giving a textured appearance
- The real advantage of power is the reduction in air pollution compared to liquid. When powers are cured in an oven they emit no VOC’s (volatile organic compounds)
Claddings:
Plastic Laminates:
- Advantage is no warping, swelling due to moisture
- Very durable, able to take higher impacts without cracking
- Interior applications only
- Finished product must be stored in a temperature controlled environment to prevent cracking or bubbling
- Plastic laminates can expand and contract a 1/8” or more in both directions
- Available in 3 basic grades
- Forming Grade
- Heat-forming for tight radiuses on counter tops and small diameter column covers
- Vertical Grade
- Wall panels, Column Covers and Elevator Interiors
- Decorative plastic laminate sheeting is made by taking five or six layers of brown Kraft paper in large rolls and running this material through vats of resin and driers. The results are then cut into sheets and impregnated with resins. The pattern sheet is also run through resins the same way. These layers of resin-coated Kraft paper are fed into a press. Then a resin-coated pattern sheet is put into the mold. Last, a clear melamine overlay is put on top of all the layers where heat and pressure actually make the resins flow.
- When applying plastic laminates to a radius aluminum surface, both plastic laminate and the aluminum substrate should be heated for maximum bonding power. This will eliminate the memory of the laminate from constant tension and wanting to straighten back out. Once the two materials are bonded and cooled, the laminate actually hugs the aluminum substrate.
Wood Veneers
- Advantage to applying wood veneers to aluminum is it’s a hard substrate that will withstand higher impacts than a wood substrate
- If the veneer has to match other furnishings, make sure the veneers are bought from the same source and lot
- Specify a foil backed veneer to prevent adhesion failure
- Finished product should be stored in a temperature controlled environment to prevent cracking and bubbling
Vinyl’s
Flexible vinyl overlay resurfacing is a great option for today’s environment
- High Strength Integrated Adhesive forms a permanent bond to aluminum
- Unaffected by moisture, humidity or extreme temperatures
- Available in both interior & exterior grades
- Anti-corrosive film layer that makes it resistant to direct UV sunlight, rain, snow, ice, smog and other perils of nature
- Large selections of finishes
- Wood Grains
- Marbles
- Granites
- Textures
- Metallics
- Solid Colors
Colored Transparent Vinyls
- Can be applied over aluminum or stainless patterned sheets
- Available in a variety of colors
- Economical alternative to transparent paints or color anodizing
- Low maintenance
- Very durable, excellent for high traffic areas
Ceramics Coatings:
Porcelain Enamel
- Glass like, non-porous material made up silica, borax, soda and various metal oxides that are fused to steel sheets.
- A spray applied liquid to a heavy gage steel that is fire cured and hardened in a kiln.
- Mainly used for exterior surfaces, it is unaffected by sun, rain, snow, dust or industrial atmospheres.
- The color is permanent and will not oxidize, fade, peel or blister.
- Maintenance free
- Available in custom colors
- Very heavy
- Size limitations, typically no more than 20 square feet are recommended due to high possibility the material may warp in the kiln process.
- If not sealed properly, can rust from the inside out.
Ceramic Steel
- Alternative to Porcelain Enamel
- A thin gauge steel (28 ga.) bonded to a .090 aluminum
- Used as a cladding for Marker Boards, Wall Panels and Column Covers
- Gives all the advantages of Porcelain Enamel but lighter weight
- Larger panel sizes available, up to 80 square feet
- Limited color selections in small quantities
- Resistant to;
- Bacteria
- Paint
- Scratches
- Acid
- Fire
- Graffiti
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