Pros and cons of aluminum door profiles

Aluminum is a lightweight, durable, corrosion-resistant, easy-care building material with a long service life; environmentally friendly, does not contain impurities of heavy metals, does not emit harmful substances under the influence of ultraviolet rays and remains operational in any climatic conditions with temperature drops from -80 ° C to +100 ° C.

Aluminum retains its structural properties better than any other material during temperature extremes. After surface treatment of aluminum products, they become resistant to the harmful effects of rain, snow, and smog..

One of the disadvantages of aluminum is that direct contact of aluminum with other metals can cause electrolytic reactions, which in turn leads to severe electrocorrosion of aluminum, up to its destruction. To date, the technology for the production of aluminum profiles has reached perfection – the main material for the manufacture of light and thin structures that have the same strength and durability as traditional construction materials..

The aluminum profile is usually made of a three-component alloy: aluminum, magnesium, silicon.

Aluminum has a high thermal conductivity, so all leading manufacturers produce two types of profiles, which differ in the field of application:

• “Cold” profile, with high thermal conductivity, no thermal insert. Designed for the manufacture of doors (both internal and external) in unheated buildings or for the manufacture of internal doors in heated rooms;
• “Warm” combined profile, with low thermal conductivity, with a heat-insulating insert. Designed for the manufacture of external doors in heated buildings.

In “warm” profiles, the outer and inner shells of the profile are interconnected with a thermal insulating insert (sometimes mistakenly called a “thermal bridge”), which interrupts the heat flow, thus providing better thermal insulation. Along with performing the heat-insulating function of the bulkhead, it also perceives static loads, and, not to the detriment of its durability.

The thermal insert is usually made of glass fiber reinforced polyamide. Its thermal properties allow it to withstand temperatures up to +200 0С, which makes it possible to cover the profiles with oven-dried powder enamel, assembled. Aluminum profile constructions use double seal around the perimeter or middle seal and rebate seal (internal), which provides high performance in wind, water, and soundproofing.

Seals are mainly EPDM (synthetic rubber), often in the form of cured frames at the corners, or silicone.

The most advanced surface treatment technologies for aluminum profiles are:

• powder painting, followed by firing (RAL colors);
• anodizing the surface of products to match the natural color of aluminum, gold, bronze, etc..

Construction of corner joints of aluminum profiles: A – REYNAERS; B – ALUVAR;

During powder coating, a layer of elastic plastic is polymerized directly on the surface to be painted, with very high adhesion, as a result of which an impact-resistant coating is created with anti-corrosion properties and an operating temperature range from -60 0C to + 1500C. Coating thickness can be from 30 to 250 microns.

The construction of the “warm” profile makes it possible to make the profile in two colors (the inner and outer sides are of different colors). For the long-term functioning of doors made with aluminum profiles, high-quality corner joints of the profiles are very important. A stable and airtight connection of corners and joints can be achieved through special dowel or punching joints, followed by gluing the corner joints with a special glue-sealant. Modern gluing technology ensures rigidity, reliability and accuracy of processing joints.

Aluminum profiles for doors can be divided into several groups:

• The system of profiles for balconies practically does not differ from window systems, and in practice, most often, a window profile is used for balconies. It is only necessary to take into account the width of the profile in order to be able to install the locking device on the balcony door. Requirements for a balcony profile for heat and sound insulation are similar to those for windows;
• System of profiles for internal doors – cold profiles;
• System of profiles for external doors – “warm” profiles.

To increase the rigidity of door structures, it is advisable to make the lower transom from a wider profile than the others, using a T-shaped, not a corner connection. Door profiles allow the installation of special door accessories (hinges, locking devices, etc.). If necessary, a special profile for the threshold is used. Leading manufacturers offer a wide range of thresholds, sufficient to meet any general construction requirements.