Aluminum is known as the "wonder metal". It is mainly bauxite, the third most common element in the earth's crust and the most abundant metal on earth.
The chemical, physical and mechanical properties of modern aluminum alloys have led to a dramatic rise in its global use, to over 5% per year. Eight reasons why the market for aluminum frames continues to grow in the window and glass world is that aluminum frames now dominate the commercial market.
1.Light weight
Aluminum is a very light metal, with a specific gravity of only 2.7 g/cm³, about one-third that of steel or copper. In fact, it is one of the lightest metals on the market it ideal for window and door frames, but it is especially important to use lightweight frames when it comes to curain walls. Curtain walls are not structural and can only support their own weight, so the lighter the weight the better.
2.Corrosion resistant
If you don't want to spend too many things on maintenance, then aluminum is your best choice. This is because when aluminum comes into contact with air, a protective layer of aluminum oxide forms immediately on the surface. This layer is extremely resistant to corrosion and is not affected by weather, including acid rain, and will not be damaged by cleaning products. Unlike timber or PVC-U frames, aluminum window frames will not swell, crack, split or warp in any weather for many years. Corrosion resistance can be further improved by anodizing or painting the surface (usually by powder coating).
3.Won't break
Aluminum is both malleable and ductile, which means that it can be bent or pressed into shape or drawn into filaments without losing its toughness or breaking or cracking. In other words, its flexibility is not fragile. In fact, aluminum is the second most ductile metal and the sixth most ductile metal. For anyone who wants curved curtain walls or windows, this is one of their must-have materials because aluminum framing profiles can be easily bent or pressed into desired shapes without damaging them.
4.100% recyclable
Aluminum is unique when it comes to recycling metals. It is 100% recyclable and the quality of recycled aluminum is the same as pure aluminum. This means that aluminum can be reused through recycling. It is also possible to process recycled aluminum without much engineering effort, which reduces costs for the supplier. Since the first industrial aluminum was produced about 100 years ago, the global demand for aluminum has grown to about 29 million tons per year, so the demand for aluminum or aluminum profiles on the market is very high, which also means that the competition is also greater.
5.Extremly robust
Aluminum alloys are used to make frames for windows, doors and curtain walls. This is because pure aluminum by itself does not have a high tensile strength. However, once it is alloyed with other elements such as manganese, silicon, copper and magnesium, its strength is greatly increased. Pure aluminum has a tensile strength of about 90 MPa, but as an alloy it can be increased to over 690 MPa. In fact, as we have seen, aluminum is one of the lightest engineering metals and when used as an alloy, it has a much better strength-to-weight ratio. Unlike steel, aluminum's increased strength also means that it can withstand low temperatures, which means that aluminum windows, doors and curtain walls can stand up to low temperature environments.
6.Easy to form alloys
As we have seen, aluminum is often alloyed with other elements to improve its physical properties. For example, the addition of manganese alone can increase the strength of pure commercial aluminum by 20%. Aluminum is also easily alloyed with silicon, copper, zinc, iron and magnesium. This means that a range of alloys can be produced with properties tailored to specific applications. Aluminum window glass companies use alloys of aluminum with silicon and magnesium, which are excellent choices for extruded aluminum profiles. They are versatile, heat treatable, highly formable, weldable, and offer high strength and excellent corrosion resistance.
7.Easy to make into frames
Aluminum window frames are made using the extrusion process, in which aluminum profiles are formed by pressing preheated aluminum alloy through a mould. These profiles are then joined together to form the frame. The design of these profiles gives the window frames their unique characteristics. They can be complex designs, and these complex shapes can be achieved using individual extruded segments, so the profiles are both strong and durable. Aluminum also has good machinability, making it easy to accurately fabricate aluminum profiles into finished window frames.
8.Decorative
Aluminum can be easily anodized or powder coated to give it a smooth decorative finish. This means that aluminum windows, doors and curtain walls not only perform excellently, but also look great. Anodizing is done by immersing aluminum in an acidic electrolyte and allowing an electric current to pass through. This transforms the metal surface into a decorative, durable, corrosion-resistant aluminum oxide finish. Aluminum oxide is fully integrated with the aluminum underneath so it won't chip or flake, making it extremely durable. Aluminum oxide has a porous structure, so it needs to be sealed to make it corrosion resistant. Sealers can be clear or contain special days, so anodized aluminum is available in a variety of colors.
Another method is to paint the aluminum. Aluminum can be pre-treated by anodizing or chemical reaction to create a corrosion-resistant layer, which can then be powder coated in any RAL color. Because rate has so many advantages, more and more people are choosing aluminum windows, doors and curtain walls for building commercial and residential buildings.
