Thermal Break

The main function of a thermal break system is to separate an aluminum profile into two parts to reduce thermal conductivity in a window. The two ways of doing this are by using poured polyurethane (pour and debridge), or using a polyamide structural insulating strip system.

Alutions offers two methods:

Pour and Debridge (P&DB)

This Method offers improved thermal performance in a single piece of extrusion. The process consists of filling a pre-extruded cavity in the profile with resin that then hardens. Subsequently, we cut a small section of aluminum on both sides of the filling zone, dividing the profile in two parts. When assembly is done, the resin isolates the exterior and interior parts of the system. This thermal barrier enhances the resistance to condensation and offers an alternative for areas of high and low temperatures. Clients will be able to control the interior thermal conditions, and save lots of money on energy.

Polyamide Structural Insulating Strips

This system involves joining two separate extrusions through the use of an engineered structural insulating strip. Both the inside and outside aluminum profiles are extruded independently with a cavity that will ultimately receive the strip and produce a true mechanical connection of the two frames. Structural insulating strips made of polyamide have been the chosen method of thermally breaking aluminum fenestration products for more than thirty years overseas.

Anodizing

The anodizing process provides an artificial protection to the aluminum with its own corrosion.

Anodizing is an electrochemical process that creates a protective coat of aluminum oxide on the base surface. This process consists in submerging the aluminum in acid (sulphuric acid). When an electric current is applied, oxygen is liberated and reacts with the aluminum anode generating a oxide coat that will vary depending the tim the current is applied. In order to close the pores on the aluminum surface, it is soaked in desmineralized water at 96°C. In this way, the process ends, and the life span of the finish is proportional to the thickness of the coat.

Aluminum oxide can reach great hardness, ranging between 7 and 8 in the Mho Scale. It is very stable and resistant to environment corrosion agents.

The coat generated in this electrochemical process is imbedded in the metal and therefore cannot be scraped or peeled off.

Advantages

• Maintenance free.
• Increases the protection against rain, sun and humidity.
• Increases superficial hardness.
• Decorative finish, different tonalities obtained.
• Resistance to wear and tear.
• Oxide resistance.

Main quality tests for this finish

After the profile has been painted or anodised, is ready to be packed and delivered to the door and window industry. Alutions by Tecnoglass thus fulfils its mission. Multiple specification profiles in assorted colours are ready to become a solution.

After the profile has been painted or anodized, is ready to be packed and delivered to the door and window industry.

Paint

This process consists in applying a liquid coat of electrostatic paint on previously treated profiles. The pieces are painted using electrostatic discs that create a uniform and continuous coat. Later they receive thermal treatment defining the final properties.

Composition

Electrostatic paint is an emulsion or a homogeneous blend of non-mixing liquids that basically consists of:

• A pigment that defines the color.
• A resin that gives mobility to it.
• One or more solvents that improve its diffusion
• Additional additives that grant proper characteristics.

Advantages

• 10-20 years durability, depending on the finish.
• More homogeneous, as far as tonality is concerned.
• Broader color spectrum.
• Maintenance free.
• Excellent brightness, adherence and weather resistance.
• Easier to manufacture.
• Flexible and resistant.

The chemical pre-treatment of the profiles in paint is done using an acid de-greaser and an electrostatic gripping solution. We also use a series of rinses that prepare the profile surface for the application of the paint.

We have a paint capacity higher than 1500 processed tons per month, and the infrastructure required to paint any kind of shape in lengths up to 7.3m.

Finishes

We recently started applying powder coatings, wood grain and marble/ stone finishes, always looking for new technologies and going far beyond expectations.

Main quality tests for this finish

After the profile has been painted or anodised, it is ready to be packed and delivered to the door and window industry. Alutions by Tecnoglass thus fulfills its mission. Multiple specification profiles in assorted colors are ready to become a solution.

Extrusion

In this process, a piece of preheated billet is pushed through a die in a thermocomformed process adopting its new configuration, thus receiving the name “Aluminum Profile”. The design of the extrusion die, or perforation in the matrix is done according to the customer’s specifications – whether geometrical, symmetrical or asymmetrical. The extrusions can be solid, hollow or combined with previously established dimensions that would be otherwise impossible to obtain. The aluminum is extruded hot to increase the metal´s plasticity and cut costs. Conventional extrusion is a “hot” work process; therefore, most profiles must receive thermal treatment in order to increase their resistance (temper).

This is why we are capable of applying thermal treatment to any 6 Series obtaining the temper and mechanical properties requested by the customer, according to his or her needs.

For the extrusion process we have a press of over 500 aluminum tons/month and 7″ diameter, and another one of over 200 tons/month and 4¾” diameter. All of which provides us with a highly competitive production capacity.

Alutions by Tecnoglass

Tecnoglass operates a state-of-the-art aluminum extrusion plant since June/2007. It allows us to offer a wide variety of shapes and forms for the door and window industry.

Profiles of multiple specifications, assorted colors and excellent quality are ready to become a solution.

Raw Materials

At Alutions, we use top-of-the-line materials, billets of alloy 6063, 6061 and 6005 imported from Venalum and Alcoa.

We have a furnace with an 8-ton capacity that produces pure aluminum billets that comply with all international quality standards and assures our competitivity, efficiency and responsibility with the environment and our clients.