Aluminium is incredible stuff! It is a unique metal with a positive image that naturally appeals to the professional specifier and installer. This incredibly versatile material, when combined with its alloys, can be folded, formed, machined or worked using a wide range of processes. Thanks to these excellent material properties, aluminium has become widely used within an extensive variety of architectural and related applications.

The many desirable design properties of aluminium alloy, including its lightweight to strength ratio, makes the material suitable for a varied selection of interior and external applications. To fully assist in the decision making processes it is clearly essential that valuable insight is gained into aluminium’s’ functionality and other performance criteria. Significant advances have also been made in recent years with processing technologies, thereby increasing expectations of improved products and surface finishes at lower cost.

Aluminium products are often paired with other metallic building materials. To find out more about the compatibility of aluminium with other metallic materials, take a look below:

Chromium plate

Providing the plating is correctly applied there is no acceleration of attack on aluminium.

Copper and copper alloys

Contact between copper and aluminium will result in severe corrosion. Where joining these metals is unavoidable always use plastic ferrules and washers. Water must not be allowed to drip from copper and its alloys onto aluminium.

Iron and steel

For relatively clean rural and urban atmospheres the contact areas of steel should be painted with a bituminous or red oxide / zinc chromate paint. Existing steelwork should have any rust removed by scratch brushing. Lead-free paint should be used on any new steelwork that will be in contact with aluminium.

In extremely corrosive environments, a non-absorbent gasket, such as PVC or similar should be used in addition to paint.

Lead

Aluminium will not normally be corroded by contact with lead. In aggressive atmospheres however, both facing surfaces should have a bituminous paint applied.

Stainless steel

Stainless steels polarise and become inert to aluminium, and can therefore be safely used together.

Zinc

Aluminium is not corroded by contact with zinc. In polluted atmospheres it is advisable to coat both facing surfaces with bituminous paint. Please refer to page 143 for information on bi-metallic corrosion.

Gooding Aluminium is a national and international supplier of a wide range of high quality aluminium products.

For more information about us, visit our website www.goodingalum.com or call us on 0208 692 2255.