“The difference between good and bad architecture is the time you spend on it” – David Chipperfield. He might be correct to some extent about good and bad architecture but bear In mind that to have a good architecture, you also need suitable and modern materials. The contemporary age has required us to have more new-age materials for building a new structure. One of these materials is aluminum composite panel (ACP), which has grown significantly in the past few years.
Other materials such as bricks, concrete, wood, and steel have created some masterpiece that the world might not see it again. However, their shortcomings required other materials to develop so that we can have a modern and eye-catching external and internal decorative elements. Aluminum composite panels have replaced bricks, concrete, wood, and steel, but they have also expanded to other industries such as aircraft and transportation. But what is ACP panel exactly?
What is an ACP Panel?
Aluminum composite panels were first developed and invented in the 1960s by 3Acomposite. BASF, an American chemical company, first designed the panel with the help of 3Acomposite. ACP consists of two top and bottom layers sandwiched by a polyethylene core, which is highly flammable. This problem has made the companies to use non-flammable materials as the core. Therefore, before purchasing your product, you need to be sure about the center of an ACP panel. However, if you are building a type-c building, you shouldn’t worry about this problem.
There are three types of building in general. The first one is the type-A, which consists of more than 4-floor buildings. Type-B includes three floors, and type-C covers less than two levels. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about flammable materials in the core for type-C buildings.
ACP panels are available in different colors and different sizes. The standard dimensions of ACP panels are 3 mm, 4 mm, and 6 mm. The wide range of ACP panels has also made this material more accessible. It is also available in a variety of finishes. Well, it all depends on you. If you want to have a wooden-like kitchen, you can use ACP panels, which is not only cost-effective but also more lightweight. That’s why we want to talk more about the pros and cons of aluminum composite panels.
The pros of ACP Panels
- Aluminum composite panels, as the name suggests, are made up of aluminum mostly, which makes it possible to bend and be flexible. In fact, no decorative material is as flexible as aluminum.
- Although ACP panels are flexible and lightweight, they are strongly durable and rigid. Therefore, it is safe to say that you can use ACP panels for a long time.
- If you’ve ever worked with other decorative materials, you might know that construction is not an easy job. However, with aluminum composite panels, you can make it much easier since they are simple to install.
- Most of our choices are based on our economic situation. That’s why we consider ACP panels as an economical cladding material compared to other options available.
- As mentioned earlier, aluminum composite panels are available in different colors and finished, making it perfect for those who want to be satisfied with a variety of colors.
- Aluminum composite panel is completely UV and chemical resistant.
- These modern-age decorative materials provide excellent insulation.
- ACP panels are environmentally friendly. More than 85% of the materials used in the panels are recyclable.
Other features of Aluminum composite panels
There are different quality features of ACP panels which make them more unique. Aluminum composite panels are not only water-resistant but also stain resistant. Therefore, you can use them in the kitchen, bathroom, or to put in other words, wherever you want. The full variety of colors of ACP panels have made them suitable to be used in kitchens. If you have a wooden kitchen and you were not content, you can replace them with ACP wood-like panel. The smooth surface finish of these products would completely change your perspective about aluminum.
The cons of ACP panels
As you have probably noticed, there are many pros to the ACP panels. The advantages of panels are so much that they make the cons not much of a big issue. Needless to say, we need to mention some disadvantages of ACP panels so that you have better information and guidance for your purchase.
- In extreme weather conditions such as storms or hurricanes, ACP panels are susceptible to dent.
- While installing an ACP panel, you or your contractor must be sure to seal it properly and make it waterproof. You need to make sure that water penetration doesn’t happen when it rains.
Usage of ACP panels
The applications of aluminum composite panels have nowadays expanded to different areas such as construction, decoration, transportation, and aircraft. The most usage of ACP panels is construction and decoration, either internally or externally. For the internal part of the building, you can use ACP for wall covering, false ceiling, cupboard, modular kitchen, column cover, tabletop, and more. On the other hand, ACP is used externally for aluminum cladding, facades, signage, canopy shopfronts, shopping malls, commercial buildings, bars, hotels, offices, and more.
Another use of ACP panels, along with decoration, is insulation. When using them as an external cladding, you can also use them to reduce the upcoming noise to your house or office. Finally, engineers use panels in the aircraft industry, where lightweight and rigid materials are essential.
Aluminum composite panels installation
One of the main features of ACP panels is the ease of use and installation. Though the installation is easy, it all depends on where you want to install the panel. For a better and safer installation of ACP panels, it’s better to call your contractor. Then you need to make sure that your contractor seals the panel properly for preventing water leakage.
For cleaning ACP panels, you need to make sure that you use a standard mild detergent. Try to wash the materials with clean water to prevent further stains. Finally, try to dry the panel with a sponge or other water absorbent materials.
Conclusion
ACP panels and their applications have grown significantly for the past few years. These panels were invented, designed, and developed in the 1960s and still goes on. The cost-efficiency of these products and high-quality features such as flexibility and weight have even gained them more popularity. Aluminum composite panels have gone further to aircraft and transportation industry that proves their high quality once more. More and more companies have invested in ACP panels. It is estimated that by 2022, the industry will grow by 6%, which is enormous. If you were in doubt about your decorative material, then maybe you should reconsider and start your purchase right away.
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