Aluminum alloy profiles, commonly referred to as cladding systems are the skeleton of any metallic building. It is the architectural metal element that gives structure to a building by bringing together different metallic elements to form a protective and aesthetic barrier that serves a sturdy support for the construction of the building. These protective and structural elements come in the form of cladding. This material is basically a paint applied over another material or metal to reinforce it. It is the aluminum that gives these cladding surfaces their durability and resistance to weather conditions.
The aluminum architectural metals used for the construction of cladding systems are generally those metals that contain high amounts of aluminum and zinc. The use of these two metallic elements increases the mechanical properties of the metal and makes them more suitable for use in cladding systems. One example of a metal that contains high amounts of aluminum and zinc alloy is steel. Steel is an excellent construction material because it is extremely malleable. Thus it can be formed into very intricate designs.
In addition to steel, aluminum and zinc are used as the basic elements in the creation of the various architectural metals that are used in modern-day buildings and structures. For instance, aluminum is often combined with other elements such as tin to create the popular galvanized aluminum cladding. This combination allows the aluminum to be incorporated into different colors and designs that can cover the entire structure to provide maximum protection from the harsh weather conditions.
Unlike steel or other metallic materials, aluminum exhibits excellent ductility which allows it to form very thin sheets. However, they are not enough to use as roofing cladding. The aluminum alloy must undergo lead coating before it can become suitable for use as a roofing material. This process is called die casting. This process allows architects to have greater design flexibility because the thickness of the aluminum sheet will be optimized based on the size of the casting fixtures used to form the cladding panels.
Moreover, aluminum alloy profile also has excellent fire resistance properties. This means that these materials will not easily burn and corrode even under extreme heat conditions. Additionally, aluminum is highly resistant to corrosion due to its non-metallic status. Therefore, it can resist corrosion caused by water, moisture and even impact. In addition, this type of metal systems exhibit anti-corrosion properties which mean that these materials will not lose their color or coloration when exposed to oxidizing agents like gasoline, acids or pesticides. The most common form of corrosion for aluminum is salt spray exposure, which is usually caused by excessive vehicle tire wear.
Because aluminum alloy is quite versatile, it is widely used for a wide range of building and construction industry applications. For instance, this type of metal system is widely used in thermal insulation. It is widely used in the construction of building facades, doors and window cladding where it can be used as vertical and horizontal curtain wall systems. These curtain wall systems are generally made with aluminium alloy tube series with steel clips and fasteners to hold them together.