SURFACE FINISHINGS
So when you choose ELVIAL you choose more than expertly extruded aluminium profiles. You choose a material that is resistant to corrosion and will become even more resistant, more durable overtime. Whatsmore aluminium will seriously upgrade your work’s look and feel, thanks to the equally expert surface finishing we perform at ELVIAL.
Our preferred surface treatment systems are powder coating and anodizing. Our team of experts is ready to consult with you in order to specify the best one, depending on your work’s requirements.
High exposure windows and awnings? Luminaires? Outdoor furniture? These are some of the applications where powder coating is deployed. This great variety in finishes is achieved thanks to different powders which determine the color, texture and gloss level of the final profile. They also augment the aluminium’s corrosion, bump and scratch resistance. What’s more, you get all this at a rather fair price compared to other surface treatment techniques.
In our state of the art facility, the powder coating is a state of the art procedure. Its production capacity is 26.000 t annually and is carried out through 2 vertical lines & 1 horizontal line that bears maximum profile dimensions of 360x60mm and up to 80Kg in weight. All profiles are pre-treated with an automatic metallic brush, so as to drastically reduce the incidence of surface defects.
Pre-anodizing is an extra level of surface treatment that is recommended for profiles that will be exposed to factors like humidity, air pollution or salt and ice-melting chemicals used for the de-icing of roads. It is quite a demanding process as far as infrastructure is concerned and the protocols required to make it safe for people and environment. There are only seven pre-anodizing 2in1 units around the world and ELVIAL owns one of them.
Pre-anodizing is a by-order procedure that seals your profile and protects it even against very demanding conditions. The profile is submerged in a sulfuric acid solution, which creates an anodic substrate on its surface. This substrate is the ultimate defense against corrosion. Then the powder coating is applied and the surface treatment completed.
Find out more about ELVIAL Pre-Anodizing, a rarity in the aluminium extrusion industry, here.
The aluminium profiles are grounded and then sprayed with electrostatic polyester resins. Compressed air builds up the powder coating layer. Maximum profile painting length is 7,5 m. Then the profile is transported to the curing oven. Temperature reduces the polyester resin into a fluid state and forms a continuous film of high resistance against weathering and mechanical stress. The film continuity also ensures a consistent look between different batches of the profile; all powder coated surfaces will have the exact same colour you required.
The possibilities are endless. The range of colours and textures can match every design eccentricity or particular requirement. Browse through our collection of colours and textures, including wood effect here.
Add ‘environmentally friendly’ to the great attributes of powder coating. It is a solvent - free technique with a very high powder recovery and re-use rate. At ELVIAL we are using only chrome free chemical pretreatment and TGIC-free powders. Our powder coating facility is certified according to Qualicoat Seaside Class and Qualimarine.
A NOTE FROM THE
EXPERTS
Anodizing is the surface treatment of preference for mechanical parts. Its colouring capability is limited, leaves room for colour variation between batches and is relatively vulnerable to pollutants of urban areas. Anodising is an electrochemical of controlled formation of an oxide layer on the surface of the aluminium profile. The controlled oxide layer is much harder and more durable than the thin oxide layer naturally formed, because it is part of the structure of the metal. Anodising delivers an aluminium that will not peel or chip and offers a deep metallic appearance.
FOR YOUR NEXT ALUMINIUM PROJECT
We are here to provide advice and support.
Are you interested in more?
