Aluminum veneer refers to the building decoration material formed by processing after chromizing and then using fluorocarbon spraying technology. Fluorocarbon coatings mainly refer to polyvinylidene fluoride resin (KANAR500), which is divided into primer, topcoat, and clearcoat. The spraying process is generally divided into two-coat, three-coat, or four-coat. Fluorocarbon coatings have excellent corrosion resistance and weather resistance, can resist acid rain, salt spray, and various air pollutants, have excellent thermal and cold resistance, can resist intense ultraviolet radiation, and can maintain colorfastness and non-chalking for a long time, with a long service life. The appearance quality of aluminum veneer has the characteristics of light weight and strong weather resistance, which can better extend the service life of aluminum veneer products. When processing aluminum veneer materials, aluminum veneer manufacturers use multi-layer spraying techniques for their appearance technology, which better plays the role of aluminum veneer materials.
Three Spraying Processes of Aluminum Veneer
Currently, the main three spraying processes commonly used by aluminum veneer manufacturers are: electrostatic powder spraying, polyester paint spraying, and fluorocarbon paint spraying. There are also differences in the prices of the three spraying processes. The characteristics of these three spraying techniques are introduced below:
- Electrostatic powder spraying, mainly composed of polyurethane, epoxy resin, etc., its characteristics are simple spraying construction, impact resistance, abrasion resistance, and good corrosion resistance. Its biggest weakness is fear of sunlight ultraviolet radiation. Aluminum veneer exposed to sunlight for a long time will naturally fade, resulting in serious color difference, which usually occurs after three to five years.
- Polyester paint spraying, also known as unsaturated polyester paint, is a thick paint made mainly of TECHNOLOGY 61 polyester resin. The advantage of polyester paint is its high solid content, good hardness, beautiful color, and strong corrosion resistance. The disadvantage is that its weather resistance is not as good, and its resistance to sunlight ultraviolet radiation is relatively weak.
- Fluorocarbon paint spraying, the main component of which is polyvinylidene fluoride resin (PVDF), with a chemical structure combining fluorine and carbon in the fluorocarbon-based material. Fluorocarbon paint has strong wear resistance and impact resistance. It has the characteristics of anti-fading and UV resistance in harsh weather environments, so that aluminum veneers used on external walls will not undergo serious discoloration, and therefore are commonly used in outdoor curtain walls.
Steps of Aluminum Veneer Spraying
From the perspective of the aluminum veneer production process, the main steps of the multi-layer spraying process are as follows: first, the primer coating of the aluminum veneer, then the topcoat coating, and then the clearcoat coating treatment, to achieve the corresponding curing effect on the appearance of the aluminum veneer material.
- The first step of aluminum veneer spraying is the primer coating, which seals the base of the aluminum veneer. This layer acts as an internal decorative process, mainly to improve the permeability resistance of the coating during further coating. Through the primer coating, the aluminum veneer material is protected for the first time. This can stabilize the surface effect of the material, make the coating effect uniform, and improve the adhesion effect of the topcoat material and the metal sheet. The thickness of the primer is generally controlled at about 5 to 10 microns.
- The second step of aluminum veneer spraying is the topcoat coating. The topcoat coating is a spray of corresponding color on the surface of the aluminum veneer, which is an important step in decoration. The topcoat coating is directly applied to the surface of the aluminum veneer material according to the design requirements. The topcoat coating can not only add an appearance decoration effect and beautify the aluminum veneer material to make it more suitable for architectural decoration needs but also avoid direct contact between the aluminum veneer material and the external air, preventing it from being attacked by acid rain, pollutants, etc., and slowing down the aging rate of the material. The thickness of the topcoat is generally required to be controlled at about 20 to 30 microns.
Conclusion
In conclusion, aluminum veneer is a building decoration material that undergoes chromizing and fluorocarbon spraying technology to enhance its corrosion resistance, weather resistance, and colorfastness. The three commonly used spraying processes for aluminum veneer are electrostatic powder spraying, polyester paint spraying, and fluorocarbon paint spraying, with fluorocarbon paint being the most suitable for outdoor use. The multi-layer spraying process involves primer coating, topcoat coating, and clearcoat coating to achieve a durable and uniform appearance.