In-Depth Analysis of the 'Aluminum' in Aluminum Alloy Doors and Windows — Part 1

In the decoration of the purchase of aluminum alloy doors and windows , consumers are often concerned about the thickness of the profile, hardware accessories and glass configuration, but rarely noticed the most basic raw materials - “ aluminum ” quality differences. In fact, the performance and service life of aluminum alloy doors and  windows  depends largely on the quality of the aluminum used. In this article, we will discuss the aluminum alloy doors  and Windows “aluminum” two major differences: virgin aluminum and recycled aluminum.

Primary Aluminum: A Guarantee of Purity and Performance

Primary Aluminum refers to pure aluminum obtained directly from bauxite ore through electrolysis. The production process of this kind of aluminum follows the complete flow of "bauxite → alumina → electrolytic aluminum → aluminum ingot", which has the following significant features:

High purity characteristics: the purity of high-quality primary aluminum can reach 99.7% or more, with a very low content of impurities, which provides an ideal base material for subsequent alloying.

Excellent physical properties: Aluminum alloy profiles made from virgin aluminum have better ductility, tensile strength and corrosion resistance, making the finished Doors And Windows more durable.

Stable chemical properties: The dense and uniform oxide film formed after oxidation of high-purity aluminum can effectively prevent further corrosion, which is especially suitable for humid and rainy areas.

Surface treatment advantage: the surface of virgin aluminum is smoother and more uniform, anodic oxidation, electrophoretic painting and other surface treatment effects are better, and the color is more durable.

Recycled Aluminum: The Environmental and Economic Choice

Recycled aluminum is aluminum that is re-melted by recycling scrap aluminum products, and its features include:

Significant environmental value: the energy consumption of producing recycled aluminum is only about 5% of that of virgin aluminum, which greatly reduces carbon emissions and is in line with the concept of sustainable development.

Cost advantage: the production cost of recycled aluminum is lower, which makes the door and Window Products using recycled aluminum usually more affordable.

Resource recycling: effectively reduces aluminum mining and solid waste, which has important social benefits.

However, it should be noted that the performance of recycled aluminum is greatly affected by the source of recycled materials and the melting process. High-quality recycled aluminum can be close to the performance of virgin aluminum after strict sorting and advanced refining process; while low-quality recycled aluminum may contain more impurities, affecting the strength and durability of doors and windows.

We understand the source of “aluminum”, when making a choice, you can need to combine the product use, environmental needs and budget, weigh the pros and cons, and choose the quality of aluminum alloy windows and doors  that really suits you. The next issue, YOOAN  will lead you to understand: aluminum alloy identification and selection!