Durability of Lacquered Aluminium Profile Considering Tropical Weather Conditions

Abstract

Searching for solutions against the degradation of materials by corrosion effect, is a common practice to use alloys such as aluminium instead of steel due to the advantages obtained. The lacquered aluminium profiles can substitute other materials like wood, in the carpentry production, becoming an economic saving. There is an increasingly use of aluminium replacing other traditional materials in the constructions in process, but its quality has been reduced in a considerable amount of installations. In this research, aluminium profiles from five different sources were submitted to a trial in natural exposition conditions at the Tropical weather condition Testing Lab, in order to evaluate their behaviour and establish, for the first time in our country, standing rules for lacquered aluminium profiles to be strictly fulfilled by manufacturers and importers. The results will allow modifying thickness standards of this type of coating, to guaranty its durability and to eliminate the failures provoked by our high severe weather conditions.