WHY IS ALUMINUM PRODUCTS PREFERABLE?
- Hanson Windows
- Mar 12, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 29, 2021
Aluminium has been called a 'magical metal'. Mainly found as Bauxite ore, it's the third most common element in the earth's crust and the most abundant metal on the planet. But what makes it perfect for use in windows, doors and curtain walling? Well, it's the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of modern-day aluminium alloys that account for the steep rise in its global use at over 5% every year. Here are some reasons why the market for aluminium frames in the glazing world continues to grow, now dominating the commercial market and giving PVC-U a run for its money in the residential sector.
LIGHT WEIGHT
Aluminium is a very light metal with a specific weight of just 2.7 g/cm3, which is about a third that of steel or copper. In fact, it is one of the lightest commercially available metals. This makes it ideal for window and door frames, but using a lightweight frame is especially important when it comes to curtain walling. Curtain walls are not structural and are only able to carry their own weight, so the lighter the better.
RESISTANT TO CORROSION
If you are looking for a low maintenance window, then aluminium is your answer. That is because when aluminium meets air, a protective layer of aluminium oxide immediately forms on the surface. This layer is extremely resistant to corrosion from anything the weather can throw at it, including acid rain, and will not be damaged by cleaning products. Protection from corrosion can be increased even further by anodising or painting (usually by powder coating) the surface.
WON'T BREAK
Aluminium is both malleable and ductile – in case you have forgotten your GCSE chemistry, that means it can be bent or pressed into shape or drawn out into a thin wire without losing its toughness and without breaking or cracking. In other words, its pliable not brittle. In fact, aluminium is the second most malleable metal and the sixth most ductile. This is fantastic news for anyone wanting a curved curtain wall or window, as the aluminium frame profiles can easily be bent or pressed into the required shape without any danger of them breaking.
100% RECYCLABLE
Aluminium is unique when it comes to recycling metals. It is 100% recyclable, and the quality of recycled aluminium is identical to that of virgin aluminium. Which means it can be recycled again and again. In fact, nearly 75 percent of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today. This is good news for aluminium supply, especially when you consider that since the first industrial quantities of aluminium were produced around 100 years ago, worldwide demand for aluminium has grown to around 29 million tons per year.
HIGH STRENGTH
Aluminium alloys are used to make window door and curtain wall frames. That is because pure aluminium on its own does not have a high tensile strength. However, once it is alloyed with other elements like manganese, silicon, copper, and magnesium its strength increases vastly. The tensile strength of pure aluminium is around 90 MPa but can be increased to over 690 MPa as an alloy. In fact, Aluminium which as we have already seen is one of the lightest engineering metals, has a far better strength to weight ratio than steel when used as an alloy.
DECORATIVE
Aluminium can be easily anodized, or powder coated to give it a decorative smooth or textured finish. This means that aluminium windows, doors, and curtain walling not only perform well but look fantastic too. Anodising is carried out by immersing the aluminium in an acid electrolyte bath and passing an electric current through it. This converts the metal surface into a decorative, durable, corrosion-resistant, aluminium oxide finish. The aluminium oxide is fully integrated with the underlying aluminium, so that it cannot chip or peel, making it amazingly durable.
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