Aluminium Composite Panel

Description

Aluminium is a very versatile metal, touches every aspect of our lives, from aircrafts to automobiles, from power cables to foils, aluminium can be fashioned into myriad shapes in a variety of applications and lately the building industry has caught the fancy of the versatility and performance of the material. Aluminium products are more commonly used in the construction of buildings as composite panels in wall claddings, curtain walling, and roofing. Aluminium is a energy intensive material.

The aluminium composite panels are available in various thickness ranging from 1mm to 6mm or more, this thickness includes a varying thickness of top and bottom aluminium sheet with polyurethane (PE) board sandwiched between them. Which is the coated with either polyester or PVDF resin. Aluminium panels are used wall claddings due to its high durability and high strengths. These could be used as a cladding over an existing masonry curtain wall, with an grid work of aluminum sections as a bearing structure bolted to the wall, the composite panels are inserted and fastened onto the frame, and a silicon sealant is used to caulk the horizontal and vertical gaps. The same can be applied to soffit wall and column cladding. Aluminum composite panels available are factory installed into unitized frames and are used in unitized curtain walling systems in large-scale projects. Ensuring a high performance, flexible system for use as multi-storey curtain-wall.

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

Appearance

Aluminium panels provide colour uniformity and are available in a large number of colours, elegant patterns and varied textural qualities. The highly mechanized production process ensures smooth and excellent flatness to aluminium composite panels eliminating distortion or deflection. It comes as a final product and can be directly exposed to the natural elements without any coating or protection whatsoever. It comes as panels of various sizes, which can be bent, cut, drilled, punched and easily shaped to achieve complex designs by using standard wood and metal working tools. The joints are finished with silicon sealant to caulk the joints, which are seen as a grid.

Structural Capability

The aluminium composite panel has a superior ratio of strength/rigidity to weight, as compared to steel. Being light in weight, it is easy to carry, simple to form. The unique composite construction of strong aluminium skins firmly bonded to visco-elastic core (in composite panels with polyurethane infill) provides high impact, blow, vibration and breakage resistance. Being very light and strong it weighs less than 1/10th of conventional cladding materials such as marble, granite, concrete etc., it reduces the dead weight of the building.

Thermal properties

Aluminium as a standalone component is a very good thermal and electrical conductor, by weight better than copper, but, in a composite panel, the infill material usually an insulating material like polyurethane provides its thermal resistance. Thus the thermal properties of the aluminium panel are debatable. Relative to other building components, aluminum has a high heat transfer coefficient, meaning that aluminum is a very good conductor of heat. This translates into high heat gain/loss through aluminum curtain wall panels and mullions. There are several ways to compensate for this heat loss, the most common way being the addition of thermal breaks. The panels are in-filled with polyurethane boards to improve its thermal performance. Thermal breaks are barriers between exterior metal and interior metal, usually made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These breaks provide a significant decrease in the thermal conductivity of the curtain wall. Thermal conductivity of the curtain wall system is important because of heat loss through the wall, which affects the heating and cooling costs of the building. On a poorly performing curtain wall, condensation may form on the interior of the mullions. This could cause damage to adjacent interior trim and walls. Rigid insulation is provided in spandrel areas to provide a higher R-value at these locations.

Sound insulation

Provides an excellent soundproof effect.

Fire and vermin resistance

Aluminium's melting temperature is 660C, whereas building fires can reach 1,100C. The melting point of aluminium is typically reached within minutes of the start of a fire. Thus unless alternative fire retarding systems are in place a envelope designed with aluminium components can be a liability.

They do not have any problems with vermin attacks, infestation or mould growth.

Durability and moisture resistance

Aluminum is remarkable for its ability to resist corrosion (due to the phenomenon of passivation) and with high strength to weight ratio (especially in aluminium alloys) makes a durable material for use in all applications both internal and external. These high alloy fine aluminium sheets, coated with superior quality PVDF (fluorocarbon, min 70%) resin or polyester to ensure additional durability, stability, corrosion and weather resistance.

Polyethylene also described in short as (PE), the core material used in most aluminium composite panels is a petroleum-based product with proven exterior and interior weather resistance properties. It also contributes to the strength, flexibility and stability of ACP.

Toxicity and Breath-ability

Aluminium composite panels, as a product is inert, non-toxic and has no significant emission that might cause health problems.

Sustainability (environmental impacts)

Aluminium extraction through electrolysis consumes a lot of energy; the worldwide average specific energy consumption is approximately 150.5 kilowatt-hours per kilogram of aluminium produced from alumina. (52 to 56 MJ/kg). Recovery of the metal via recycling has become an important facet of the aluminium industry. Recycling involves melting the scrap, a process that uses only five percent of the energy needed to produce aluminium from ore. However, a significant part (up to 15% of input material) is lost as dross (ash-like oxide). Polyethylene also described in short as (PE), the core material used in most aluminium composite panels is a petroleum-based product that has a significant environmental impact. Thus, aluminium as a material can only be justified by a through life cycle analysis.

Buildability, availability and cost

Aluminium composite panels are quick and easy to install due to their lightweight and can be installed using the prevailing modern fabrication facilities. Although it is manufactured in highly specialized production centers, it is available widely through a strong distribution network. There are a number of manufacturers in the production of quality aluminium composite panels. The initial cost may seem to be high but, the aesthetics, durability, low maintenance etc. has caught the imagination of the people increasing the usage of the product many fold.

Applicability

Ideal for interiors &exteriors. New constructions and renovations. Unlimited applications in commercial, Industrial and entertainment industries. Building Facade, Display units, Sign boards, Column Covers, Beam and Pillar Covers, Room

Dividers, Ceilings and more... Replaces traditional/wooden laminates for Cabinets, Doors and Partitions. Airports, Exhibition Halls, Hotels, Healthcare Facilities, Multiplexes, Petrol Pumps,

Shopping Malls, Banks, Showrooms, Institutions, Auto Dealers, Railway/Metro Stations & more...

Manufacturers

American Building Technologies Pvt. Ltd Alubond Hyderabad, India E-mail : hydindia@alubond.com

Phone: 040-55982247 Bangalore India E-mail: blrindia@alubond.com Phone: 080-22237559 Website: www.alubond.com

Alupan Composite Panels (P) Ltd. Flat No. 7D, 7th Floor, Hansalya Building, 15 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi - 110001, India. Email : sales@alupanindia.com Phone: 011-23355356, 011-23352621 Mobile: 09350003731 / 09313621133 Fax: 011-23721847 Website: www.alupanindia.com

Chemiplast Group of Industries Sunbond # 28, Ashoka Chambers, B-5, Rajindra Park,Pusa Road, New Delhi 110060, India. E-mail: chemiplast@yahoo.com, chemigroup@rediffmail.com, chemiplast@gmail.com, sunbond@gmail.com Phone: 011- 25733516 /17 Fax: 011- 25762753 Website : www.chemiplast.com