EDITORS CHOICE
ALUPROF BRINGS WOOD GRAIN ELEGANCE TO ALUMINIUM
BY WOJCIECH BROŻYNA - MD ALUPROF UK
To ensure fenestration and facade systems stand the test of time , continue to look good offering unrivalled sustainability , a high quality finish to the aluminium is prerequisite . Aluprof offer both architectural anodising and architectural powder coating for all their systems . To ensure the highest quality is achieved and maintained during the powder coating process , Aluprof are proud to have been licensed as a QUALICOAT applicator for many years and supply all their systems in accordance with this global specification .
So what is ‘ Decoral ’?
In 1993 Decoral , a company based in Verona , developed an enhancement of the powder coating finish by developing a new process where textures can be added to the coating .
Today these finishes are exceptionally photorealistic and often portray woodgrain or stone finishes , but any photorealistic finish can be replicated . Popular on the continent for many years , powder coated photorealistic finishes specified on architectural aluminium are now growing in availability and popularity with UK specifiers .
How is it achieved ?
The finish is achieved by a ‘ sublimation ’ methodology , a physical chemical process which is the direct transition of a substance from a solid phase to a gas phase using heat , the technology is also known as a ‘ heat transfer process ’.
To achieve the finish , the aluminium profile is firstly given a base coat of powder coating , or what is known as the ‘ ground ’ coat . Once this has been allowed to cool after being heat cured , the profile is then wrapped with a sublimatic film which carries the photorealistic transfer inks that are required for the finished profile .
The air between the coated aluminium the enclosing film is then vacuumed away which ensures that the transfer film is in direct contact with the ‘ ground ’ coat . The coated profile is then cured again at approximately 200 º C where , by sublimation , these special inks are transferred from the sublimatic film into the ground coated layer . Once the profile has cooled , the film is removed and the coated , textured profile is then ready for use .
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