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Let’s Talk Tech: Anodized Finishes

Anodizing is an electrochemical process that converts the metal surface into a decorative, durable, corrosion-resistant, anodic oxide finish.
The anodic oxide structure originates from the aluminum substrate and is composed entirely of aluminum oxide. This aluminum oxide is not applied to the surface like paint or plating, but is fully integrated with the underlying aluminum substrate, so it cannot chip or peel. It has a highly ordered, porous structure that allows for secondary processes such as coloring and sealing.

Let’s Talk Tech: Color Uniformity of Brushed Finishes

The ALUCOBOND® PLUS Natural Collection offers inspiring alternatives to typical paint finishes. In particular, our brushed finishes create a level of intrigue and depth which are popular with architects and owners. Unlike standard opaque finishes, brushed finishes are translucent, allowing the color of the aluminum to be a major contributor of the overall final color.

Let’s Talk Tech: Custom Color Match FAQ

3A Composites USA offers custom color matching for architects and designers who look to innovate through the use of color. Numerous custom ALUCOBOND® PLUS finishes have been developed throughout our history. To provide a better understanding for the A&D community, the ALUCOBOND PLUS Custom Color Department has addressed frequently asked questions.

Let’s Talk Tech: Finish Consistency

Directionality must be taken into account for ALUCOBOND® PLUS Metallic, Mica, Spectra, Brushed, Printed, Textured and Anodized finishes. For optimum finish consistency, we’ve developed these general guidelines.

Let’s Talk Tech: 4mm vs 6mm, You Choose

As the original Aluminum Composite Material (ACM), ALUCOBOND® has a 50 year history in the Architectural market. The product was created to provide the architectural market with a durable, light-weight panel that was easy to fabricate and handle. The composite structure meant that the sheets could retain flatness while being produced in very large sizes. For many years now, there have been multiple thicknesses of ACM available: 3mm, 4mm, and 6mm.

Let’s Talk Tech: LEED Certification

Contribution to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), The LEED program, sponsored by the United States Green Building Council (UGBC), is the primary environmentally focused building certification in the United States. In its Building Design and Construction version, buildings may qualify for various levels of LEED certification based on the total number of points achieved in various categories.