Buying Guide: Aluminum Composite Panel- A Closer Look at Designing using ACM

Aluminum Panels or the more popular Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) is the newest structural material introduced at the close of the 20th century by Alcan Composites & Alusuisse, known today by its new name, 3A Composites. Two aluminum sheets are bonded together with a non aluminum material in its core to form a strong aluminum panel called Aluminum Composite Panel or Aluminum Composite Material. The process is called generically, as sandwiching. In fact, the generic name for Aluminum Panel is Sandwich Panel. However, sandwich panel being its generic name did not gain public acceptance. Sandwich panel, in the real sense, refers to any structural materials with a core bonded by two cover sheets, involving any type of material, regardless if it was strong or not. This description does not suit Aluminum panels since ACM or the Aluminum Composite Panel has a very solid, low density polyethylene and a mineral material for its core that exhibits fire retardant properties.

A strong and solid core defines the success of Aluminum panels in any structural projects today. For a short period of time, Aluminum composite panel has conquered the structural industry and the engineering industry, being the most favorite cladding materials for buildings. There is no apparent transition from other materials to Aluminum Composite Panel. Only the industrial industry and the structural industry are quite familiar with the changes.

The physical appearance of external cladding has not changed largely from a regular person’s point of view, as aluminum panels can be painted with any kinds of color, and can assume any other materials look, imitating metallic and the non-metallic patterns such as wood and marble. Some Aluminum panel brands look thick with PVDF coatings, polyester paints, or the fluoropolymer resins. 

For the record, Aluminum panels are popular for its practical use as replacements to more expensive claddings in the past. It is low-cost, durable, and efficient. The structural and the architectural industry both benefited by using ACM, as it is flexible, with easy forming and processing of designs. Its low-weight material can easily be transported, making it easy for the construction industry.

In our structures and anywhere in the streets, ACM is one of the most ubiquitous materials. Its wide occurrence can never be denied. 
If you want to design your own house, here are some of the uses of the Aluminum Composite Panels that you might want to integrate into your own design:

• Buying Guide #1 - Do you want an external cladding for your house?   As External Cladding of buildings, ACM came out outstanding and amazing in all form - It is light weight yet sturdy for construction purposes. ACM are strong yet low maintenance. Easy installation makes construction work easy.

• Buying Guide #2 - Do you want to create an insulated room in your house? As Insulation, Aluminum composite panels are excellent materials against the extremes of the outdoor temperature, hot or cold.

• Buying Guide #3 - Do you have a business that need loud advertising? As the most popular signage material. the advertising industry finds it practical to use in trade shows, and any events that require temporary partitions, false ceilings, and signage. It also contributed much to photography as background for photo-shoots, and in fine art photography.

• Buying Guide #4 - Internal architectural designs – whether it is used as permanent or temporary partitions at home or your office, Aluminum Composite Panels are good materials both for exterior and interior curtain walling. Some of the most popular buildings and landmarks in the world today use ACM for interior decorations.

• Buying Guide # 5 - If you are into contracting with an Aerospace industry, make sure you know that this industry uses ACM for insulated wall panel system, and many, many, more. In most Air crafts, engineers use Aluminum panels for its installation processes. To note, heat control, thermal and noise control, and resistance to moisture are the main concern of the aerospace sector over the last few years.

Take note of some brands that are known for quality Aluminum Composite Materials today are: 

1. Villa Bond
2.  3A Composites
3.  Willstrong Co.
4.  Grimco
5.  Alcoa

ACM is known in a lot of names, but there is just one thing common, it has a strong composition made from Aluminum sheets with a non-aluminum material at the center.