ACM

Why Aluminum Composite Panels Are the Best Choice for Modern Buildings

Designing and constructing structures in modern commercial and residential applications poses challenges like never before. Clients demand superior durability and performance against the external and internal hazard, yet they’re no longer satisfied with purely functional buildings that offer little aesthetic value either. At the same time contractors are faced with the task of balancing limited construction budgets with strict health and safety requirements.

So how does the average contractor satisfy these disparate constraints and still deliver a great project on time? With aluminum composite material (ACM)!

What is ACM?

Traditionally, steel and wood frames have been the most popular materials used in building construction, but recent years have seen a growing surge in popularity for factory-engineered aluminum composite materials. These durable, versatile materials have a variety of uses and come in a number of different shapes and thicknesses, however, the manufacturing process is the same in every case. Two large, thin aluminum sheets are bonded together using a non-metal core, usually plastic polyethylene (PE) or thermoplastic mineral-filled core (FR). A fire retardant core (FR) is a panel that has a fire retardant adhesive bounded by two thin sheets of aluminum. FR core composite panels also offer similar benefits to PE core composite panels. The exception being that FR core panels offer compliance with many fire codes worldwide.

After the bonding is completed, the panel is finished using either a metallic or PVDF paint. The resulting panel looks somewhat like a sandwich, hence the alternative name aluminum sandwich panels.

While the technology to create these composite materials has been around since the ’60s, recent requirements for sleek, cost-effective architecture has really increased the use of ACM’s for cladding, insulation and signage in buildings.