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Product spotlight: aluminum finishes for harsh environments
March 6, 2019
Whether you're in an extreme weather location where the sun's UV can cause significant degradation and damage, or in highly corrosive locations like coastal areas or aquatic facilities, the aluminum finish you choose can have a huge impact on the longevity of your daylighting system. One of our finishing partners, , is a wealth of information on different types of finishes and their benefits, and we thought we'd re-visit some general information on paint and anodize options.
Pre-treatment and Pre-planning
While we'd like to jump right into the finishes, it's important to also consider that one of the best defenses against paint failure is proper pre-treatment of the aluminum, as premature failure of the finish is almost guaranteed without it. This is especially true in severely corrosive and extreme environments. It's also important to consider the shape and machining of the aluminum products as they may facilitate or deter corrosion. Components that might trap water can often become a major issue and lead to corrosion, and hems and seams on aluminum may be formed in a way that collects sand. Over time, this sand can move and shift and slowly erode away the painted coating or anodized finish.
Paint
When selecting paint options for corrosive or extreme environments, make sure to specify high-performance 70 percent PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) coatings, as they're required to perform to rigorous testing performance standards, including more than 4,000 hours of salt spray, and heat- and humidity-resistance to meet AAMA specifications. PVDF coatings are available in numerous colors and also shield the building against weathering, pollution and aging. That's because the carbon-fluorine bond used in PVDF coatings is one of the strongest known, supporting long-term color and gloss-retention and chalk-resistance, even under intense UV radiation.
Anodize
When extreme hardness is required for aluminum building components, such as in the extreme environments covered here, an anodized aluminum finish is a great option. Besides coming in both clear and a range of color options, the hardness of anodized aluminum rivals that of a diamond (on the Moh scale of hardness, a diamond is 10 and anodized aluminum is 9).
Architectural anodize is specified for its natural beauty, but also for its long life and low maintenance. It provides excellent wear and abrasion resistance with minimal maintenance in most environments, and it resists the ravages of time, temperature, corrosion, humidity and warping.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Of course it's also important to take care of your system's finishes once installed. Studies show that atmospheric pollution can have a negative effect on finish longevity, and runoff from adjacent site materials like mortar, cement and even gypsum dust can accumulate as alkaline deposits on aluminum surfaces and must be promptly rinsed. While somewhat more resistant to alkaline attack than anodized surfaces, high-performance paint finishes can be damaged by rough attempts to remove buildup.
There's no doubt that corrosion of architectural aluminum materials is a concern, but by taking the proper steps and preventative measures to minimize the potential for its occurrence, you can preserve aluminum's intended look, reduce replacement costs and conserve resources.
For more information on finish options available for Major's daylighting systems, including custom color matching, email us at [email protected] or call 888-759-2678.
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Company: Major Industries Inc.
Of: Information: courtesy of Linetec
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