Busting myths about coil anodized aluminum
Engineers, architects, and designers need expressive materials, but the true beauty and versatility of coil anodized aluminum can be obscured by misconceptions. This blog is part of a series addressing myths about coil anodized aluminum so you have the information you need to reflect your vision with Lorin aluminum.
Myth: Color consistency cannot be achieved with anodized aluminum.
Other coloration processes, like batch anodizing, might struggle to achieve consistent colors. The continuous coil anodizing process, though, is able to achieve excellent color consistency.
With batch anodizing, individual pieces or panels are lowered into a tank in each part of the process. Inconsistencies in look and color are created because the top of each piece spends less time than the bottom in each step of the process.
With the continuous coil anodizing process, every square inch or millimeter of the entire coil spends the same amount of time in each part of the process. This allows for an unmatched level of consistency, assuring that the colors and finishes look the same throughout all of the coils produced. In addition, the color can be carefully controlled, measured, and recorded so it can be repeated on subsequent orders.
Myth: Anodized aluminum only comes in bronze and clear for exterior finishes.
Lorin, as the global leader in the continuous coil anodizing industry, offers anodized aluminum in a vast array of colors, with an added ability to custom color match. Lorin can create custom colors, as well as match to almost any color that can be imagined. Lorin also offers a wide variety of UV-stable colors that can mirror or match natural metal looks, including stainless steel, brass, gold, zinc, pewter, bronze, copper, and muntz. Some of these metal looks are also available in pre-patina or antique versions.
Meanwhile, though paint is available in many colors, like any organic coating, it will fade over time. Paint fades because it is simply an applied coating, using pigments or dyes that have limited life in terms of color-fastness due to UV rays breaking down the chemicals within the coating. Since the anodized layer in coil anodized aluminum is a part of the aluminum itself, it is not as susceptible to fading. That’s why most UV-stable colors from Lorin come with a 20-year fade-resistant warranty.
Check back to learn how affordable coil anodized aluminum can be, and how it holds up for formed applications.
Read the rest of our Coil Anodized Aluminum Myths:
Environmental Responsibility
Cost and Crazing
Warranties and Coastal Applications
Durability