Aluminium with PU (polyurethane) coating

Aluminium with PU (polyurethane) coating

Polyurethane coil coatings sit between polyester and PVDF. The film is thicker, normally about 25 to 40 microns, and tougher, so it resists scratching, scuffing and chemical attack better than PE. UV stability is considerably higher than polyester and lower than PVDF, which is enough for most buildings with a design life of 20 to 30 years.

Why designers choose PU

• Stronger resistance to abrasion during handling, installation and cleaning
• Better chalking and fading behaviour than polyester in sunny climates
• Suitable for civil and industrial buildings, logistics halls, schools and shopping centres
• Good bending behaviour on 1.5 to 2.0 mm sheet, with larger radii recommended for deep folds
• A balanced cost between PE and PVDF

As a rough guide to relative performance, manufacturers typically assign PE a decorative life of around five years and a protective life of ten, PU around fifteen and thirty, and PVDF around twenty and thirty. These are indicative figures for comparing systems, not a warranty.

Use on the Georgian climate

Tbilisi summers bring strong sun and large day-night swings, while Batumi adds humidity and salt in the air. PU holds up well to both for most public and commercial buildings. Where the building faces the sea directly or must keep colour for three decades, we recommend PVDF.

Design advice

Check the minimum bend radius with the manufacturer and avoid sharp reverse bends. Use sliding fixings to absorb thermal movement. For buildings above 12 m, the whole wall assembly, not just the aluminium, is reviewed under Chapter 14 of the Building Safety Rules.

Pricing is on request. Send us your drawings and we will prepare a calculation.

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