Thermal washers for polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is used in industry, in the spheres of urban planning, advertising, design, as well as among summer residents and in agriculture. The choice of such panels in construction is due to their advantages over many other materials. In order for this plastic to prove itself as a durable material that meets aesthetic needs, specially invented thermal washers are chosen for its fastening.

Thermal washer for polycarbonate is an element for fixing sheets that protects them from corrosion, damage and deformation during operation, extending the life of the polymer. One of the most important functions of this polycarbonate washer is to maintain the integrity of the product when the temperature drops and rises.

When the air temperature gets high enough, the polycarbonate expands. As it gets colder, the polycarbonate shrinks. Naturally, self-tapping screw elements acting as a fixing device for a polycarbonate structure will eventually push the sheet through. Due to temperature changes, polycarbonate sometimes changes its thickness by several centimeters at different times of the year.

In addition, thermal washers close the holes for fastening in polycarbonate so well, preventing it from deforming and staggering on the structure frame, which eliminates the risk of contamination with dust and other destructive elements. Thus, no gaps are formed, which is important for thermal insulation inside the structure and ensuring complete tightness.

Thermal washers do not allow moisture to pass through, protect the sheets of the fixed material from corrosion and save buildings from bad weather - greenhouses and polycarbonate roofs are not afraid of thunderstorms and winds. The useful functions of thermal washers are due to the thoughtful design of each fastening element.

The design consists of the following parts.

• Snap-on plug or just a "cover". Its practical value lies in ensuring that moisture is impermeable to the inside of the washer and structure. Thanks to the different colors of the plug (it can be matched to the color of the polycarbonate sheet or stand out to create a creative design), it can be used as a finishing element in creating a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing appearance of the building.
• Hermetic seal. This is a polymer ring. The part also resists the corrosive degradation of polycarbonate.
• A leg, the length of which is selected in accordance with the thickness of the product to be mounted. There are thermal washers without legs. When using a washer with a leg, there is less pressure on the sheets, which is effective when working with thicker polycarbonate for better fixing.

Self-tapping screws for fastening polycarbonate with a thermal washer are sold separately and are included in the fastener design.

Washers for securing polycarbonate sheets have proven to be the best retainers due to their versatility. With thermal washers, you can be sure of the reliability of the structure and its excellent appearance. The choice of color washers in our time is practically unlimited, and anyone will find a suitable look in a wide range.

Thermal washers for polycarbonate are used in various types of construction work. The types of washers differ in purpose, have their own characteristics. It is important to determine the place of application and choose the appropriate thermo washers for honeycomb and monolithic material. The material determines the main characteristics that are worth paying attention to first of all, namely, how reliable the fastening press washer is in terms of service life and is interesting in appearance.

For example, plastic thermal washers are the most diverse in color palette and have a transparent texture, such washers are used in interior decoration. But the rubber thermal washer is less loved by designers because of its modest appearance. But it copes better with the influence of external factors; when using it, enhanced protection against leakage and negative corrosion is always promised.

Manufacturers of press washers without legs also take care of the aesthetic appeal of the ensemble of the structure being erected. These thermal washers allow panels to be secured without the effort of pre-drilling - no more need for that. The universal model without a leg can successfully fix material of any thickness.

Hardware with a high-quality gasket firmly and permanently fix polycarbonate without deforming it. The roofing system of buildings will not leak, and the facade of the building will not suffer for many years if you choose a reliable type of thermal washer. The cheapest are polypropylene (plastic) fasteners, but their scope is limited for practical reasons. Stronger types will cost more.

The most durable thermal washers are made from stainless steel. The metal washer is very durable and will withstand and resist prolonged exposure to sunlight, hurricanes and other weather conditions. It is used for fixing polycarbonate on massive roofs and in general in any structures with a metal profile. It is advantageous to fix it with a metal stainless washer in regions where weather conditions can sometimes be harsh and drastically changing, since all buildings in such natural conditions are subjected to heavy loads.

The service life is more than 40 years, the color is in harmony with the metal. Round steel hardware - its shape is compared to a plate. The seal is made of elastic polyurethane and is inserted into the hole in the washer. The thickness is 0.8 cm, the diameter is 3.3 cm. The self-tapping screw is selected with a diameter of no more than 6 mm, protected from corrosion. Steel thermal washers will securely fix the material if the installation technique is followed correctly.

Polypropylene washers are not very durable and do not last long in comparison with their stainless steel counterparts - only from 3 to 5 years. For the price, these press washers are distinguished by their low cost. They do not have protection from ultraviolet radiation, therefore, only in places that are not accessible to direct sunlight, the plastic of such thermal washers will not be destroyed under the influence of this factor.

It was there that they found their application. The colors of these fixing elements are varied. Thus, it is not difficult to choose the shade of the plastic washer so that it matches the color scheme of the room and even fully matches the polycarbonate sheet in this regard. The height of the plastic washers is 1.2 cm, the diameter is 3.5 cm. The screw diameter is 6 mm.

The service life of polycarbonate thermowells is shorter, except perhaps only for steel hardware. Polycarbonate washers can last 20 years. Thermal washers perfectly resist the effects of ultraviolet radiation, are strong clamps, which allows them to be used in structures located even in areas with difficult natural conditions. For many years, the scorching sun, rains and temperature drops are not scary. The excellent design connects the mating parts well, the fasteners are sealed, moisture does not penetrate into them, and rust does not form.

Polycarbonate washers are available in a variety of colors. Fastening with such a washer can be made invisible or, on the contrary, stand out due to this. The homogeneity of the materials contributes to the level of strength.

The dimensions depend on the thickness of the polycarbonate sheet. Taking this characteristic into account, suitable washers are selected. The construction of the leg, O-ring, cover protects the polycarbonate surface from damage. It is easy to carry out installation work with a thermal washer.

Silicone thermal washers provide hydroscopicity and reliability of polycarbonate fastening at the proper level. They withstand the action of aggressive organic substances, ultraviolet radiation. The two-level seal successfully resists the penetration of moisture, dirt, and prevents rusting. The design is thought out so as to reduce the likelihood of damage to the polycarbonate coating during installation. The choice of colors of silicone thermal washers is limited, but they look appropriate everywhere.

When using silicone fasteners, the panels are protected from damage with a self-tapping screw. The surface of the washer is soft so as not to deform the polycarbonate sheets. It is worth highlighting the convenience of working with silicone press washers.

Thermal washers for polycarbonate are available in different sizes. The size of the fastener is determined by the size of the material to be mounted. For each thickness of polycarbonate sheet, only a certain leg length is suitable. Therefore, among the building materials, thermal washers are often included in the kit, specially selected for fixing polycarbonate. All the remarkable characteristics of polycarbonate are inconceivable without thermal washers. You need to choose the right size, depending on the parts that make up the washer.

• The leg length is equal to the thickness of the polycarbonate sheet (4-16 mm). This is especially true for polycarbonate clips.
• The thickness of the gasket softens the pressure on the panel with the rigid part of the washer and seals the attachment point. The thickness and quality of the gasket determines how reliable the thermal washer is. Good fastening is carried out with a washer with a seal from 7 mm wide.

When preparation for construction work takes place, tools, materials and parts are first prepared, so that later you will not be interrupted in search of this or that thing. It is always best to calculate and purchase the right amount of all items in advance. How to find out how many thermal washers are needed for 1 polycarbonate sheet, and how many will be required for the installation of the entire structure?

Builders use the following formula: divide the value of the perimeter of the polycarbonate sheet by the step of the indent between the fasteners. The distance between the washers for fixing polycarbonate varies from 25 to 70 cm. It is determined by the dimensions of the fasteners and the sheet that needs to be fixed, external natural factors are important.

When erecting greenhouses, the distance between the arcs in which is 1 meter, they are repelled by the rule that the construction of a greenhouse 4 meters long requires 48 pieces of thermal washers. With an increase in length by one meter, the number of thermal washers increases by 10. If there is a pitch of 650 mm between the arcs, then in a greenhouse with a length of 4 m, 68 thermal washers are used for fastening.Never confuse greenhouse width with length! Below we will share the features of installing polycarbonate with thermal washers, which are important to know.

After preparing the polycarbonate sheets, to install the thermal washers, it is often necessary to make holes into which the washers will be inserted. A drill can be used for this purpose. The diameter of the drill should be such that it would be possible to drill holes larger than the diameter of the legs of the thermowells by 2 or 3 mm. After all, as we already know, polycarbonate tends to expand in heat, which means that if this feature is not taken into account when the material is swollen and compressed, it will begin to collapse. And neither the thermal washer nor the structure will stand for a long time in such conditions.

Installation of washers with self-tapping screws is carried out at a distance of 20-30 cm. Remember that the attachment points are between the ribs. The step increases if the panel thickness is small. The distance reaches 70 mm when working with a very thin sheet and is equal to 50 mm when the thickness is 4 mm. It is worth retreating 40 mm from the edge of the polycarbonate sheet.

The use of thermal washers for polycarbonate is focused on preventing damage to such material. They successfully provide tightness and protection from the inside.

When you install the thermal washer, make sure the leg of the washer rests against the frame and that the mount is at right angles. The gasket should fit well to the sheet, the head should be level, not at an angle and not pressed into the panel. It is possible to use thermal washers when installing polycarbonate for fastening it with self-tapping screws, the head of which is the same as that of the bolt. Remember to close the washer with a cap to keep moisture out of the hole.

Based on these features of the installation of polycarbonate with press washers, you can start building point by point.

1. Drill holes in the attachment points. The pitch is measured and marked before drilling is performed.
2. Insert a thermal washer with a self-tapping screw into the holes.
3. Washers are installed with tools such as a screwdriver or screwdriver.
4. We close the screw with a plug.

Thermal washers are a reliable fastening of polycarbonate in any construction.

How to drill polycarbonate and fix it with a thermal washer, see the video.