The Benefits of Anodising
Amongst metals widely used in manufacturing, anodising is unique to aluminium and enhances the surface of the aluminium. Modern materials must permit design creativity but at the same time they must be:
- Produced responsibly and economically
- Durable
- Recyclable at the end of their life
Aluminium, with its exceptional recyclability, minimal maintenance and proven lifetime performance, successfully responds to the need for environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions. In building applications, aluminium virtually always requires surface treatment. Yet, the choice of surface treatment of aluminum is as important as the choice of the material itself. Anodising enhances the natural qualities of aluminium still further; it permits a strongly contemporary finish with incomparable corrosion and abrasion resistance.
Unique amongst surface treatments, such as coatings, anodising is totally integrated with the metallic substrate – it is not simply a film applied to cover the surface. The result – pure aluminium – is a perfectly and repeatedly recyclable material with remarkable performance characteristics.
These same exceptional qualities can be found in new product applications in anodising, which now provide new and infinite texture and design possibilities for building exteriors. The modern, aesthetic beauty of anodised aluminium is founded on its many unique properties. Anodising is a transparent finish integral with the metal, which retains and enhances the inherent beauty of the aluminium; it is totally UV resistant.A totally homogeneous appearance can be guaranteed, thanks to the nature of the anodising process and the very tight quality controls on both the aluminium and the surface treatment. Colours, textures and patterns can be incorporated in the anodic film, enhancing the natural metallic appearance without affecting the total UV resistance.
The ’’living’’ quality of its natural metallic sheen, combining texture with colour, guarantees a creative interaction of the surfaces and shapes of the building with the constantly changing light conditions through the day and across the different seasons. The anodic layer will retain its original beauty and protection against corrosion throughout the life of the building – as proven by independent inspection of buildings of more than 30 years old.