Best Finishes to Protect Your Aluminium Door From Corrosion
Posted on: 10 January 2020
Aluminium is increasingly becoming the material of choice for both doors and windows on contemporary buildings. This is because the metal is versatile, relatively affordable and lightweight, and it has a high strength-to-weight ratio. Additionally, aluminium doors provide high thermal insulation, are durable and are aesthetically appealing. Despite its many advantages, however, aluminium metal wears rapidly, is relatively soft and is susceptible to corrosion and therefore requires protection. Here are five common finishes to protect your aluminium door from corrosion:
Pretreatment
Pretreatment is a basic and compulsory process that enhances aluminium metal before any fishing is done. Pretreatment involves stripping the metal surface of any oils or dust using alkaline or acidic materials. This process is important, as it makes the door surface more resistant to corrosion and provides better adhesion to a powder or paint finish.
Anodisation
Anodisation is the process of artificially oxidizing the surface of the aluminium metal. The protective coating from the anodisation process makes the metal chemically inert and therefore more durable. Aluminium anodisation can be done in a variety of colours, giving you the freedom to style your front door as you wish. For additional protection, however, hard-coat anodisation can be done, which results in a more wear-resistant surface but restricts your colours to black, grey or the natural silver.
Liquid Painting
Painting metal surfaces is a popular method of protection and can also be applied to your aluminium door for protection and aesthetics. Liquid painting offers a variety of colours and a uniform film coating but does not offer much in fighting corrosion when compared to other methods such as powder coating.
Powder Coating
Powder coating is an electrostatic process where aluminium metal is passed through a fine mist of paint. Unlike liquid painting, powder coating does not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making it more compatible with environmental regulations. In the powder coating process, paint is attracted to the aluminium through an electrostatic charge, resulting in an evenly distributed finish that is durable. Aluminium doors painted using this method can stand up to abuse better than those painted with wet paint, and this process is ideal for voluminous production.
Mechanical Finishes
A high-quality door surface is easier to protect. In this regard, aluminium can be put through a variety of mechanical finishes in preparation for other cosmetic techniques. Some of these finishes include sanding, grinding, polishing, blasting and buffing.
The door to your home is something that you interact with every day and is the first thing your neighbours see. Aluminium offers style, security and is the ideal door material for urban households. With the finishes above, your aluminium door should last for years. Contact a company that sells aluminium doors to learn more.
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