Aluminum profile painting

Aluminum profile is one of the most demanded and frequently used materials. Various structures are made from it, for example, furniture, decor items, picture frames, wall panels, frames for future heaters and air conditioners.

In this article we will tell you about the purpose, how and with what you can paint the aluminum profile, what methods there are for this.

Aluminum is a non-ferrous metal with a number of features and advantages, among which it is worth noting strength, durability, resistance to rust and mechanical resistance. But among all these advantages, it also has a disadvantage, and a very significant one: when the material comes into contact with air, it begins to oxidize very quickly.

This process cannot be stopped. As a result, after a while, the profile begins to deform, collapse, and the structure from it will become unusable. To avoid such a situation, in the production where aluminum profiles are made, they are painted.

At the same time, you need to know about another feature of the material - ordinary water-based paint will not stick to the metal, but will simply drain. Therefore, special paints and varnishes are used in production.

For painting aluminum profiles, the following are used:

• powder paint;
• epoxy and acrylic enamel;
• primer.

These paints and varnishes have a special composition and are suitable for painting aluminum products.

There are several effective and efficient methods of painting aluminum metal profiles that are used in practice today. Let's look at each of them and try to determine which one can be applied at home.

Powder dye is ideal. It contains special components, the presence of which makes it possible to successfully process even the most fastidious surface.

It consists of the following components:

• film former;
• coloring pigment;
• hardener;
• additional color pigment;
• composite additives.

This coloring option is used if you need to create an additional protective layer on the aluminum surface and for surface decoration. The process consists of the following steps:

• surface cleaning;
• removing the oxide layer and leveling the material;
• metal degreasing (you can degrease the aluminum surface using gasoline, white spirit, acetone);
• spraying dye powder onto the surface using a special spray gun;
• polymerization (this is the process of heating a layer of dye to connect it to the metal surface; experts recommend using a gas burner in this case, the high temperature of which melts the paint).

Anodizing is a process during which an electric current acting on aluminum creates an additional protective layer, a film, on its surface. Using this method, you can paint the profile even with ordinary water-based paint at home.

For anodizing an aluminum surface with your own hands, you need to have:

• sandpaper, it will clean the surface;
• degreaser;
• salt or soda (these elements are used to create an electrolyte);
• aluminum bucket;
• vinegar and aniline dye.

Also, you can not do without a source of electric current.

The anodizing method consists of three stages.

1. Preparation of anodizing solution. This is the most important step on which the staining result depends. Pour 5 liters of water into a metal container (bucket) and add 1 kg of salt. Pour 5 liters of water into another container and add 1 kg of soda. Mix the solutions in a ratio of 1: 9 (the amount of brine must be higher).
2. Cleaning the aluminum profile. Its surface is cleaned and smoothed. Degreasing is in progress.
3. Place the profile in the solution and connect the current. For 2-3 hours, the electric current must continuously act on the liquid with the profile placed in it. If everything is done correctly, after the specified time, the solution will acquire a silvery-bluish color.

After the anodizing process is completed, you can start painting the metal.

• Prepare the dye solution. You need to take water, vinegar and dye. The ingredients are mixed in a container in a ratio of 1 liter of water / 10 ml of vinegar / 15 mg of dye.
• Heat the solution to a temperature of 80 ° C.
• Place the aluminum profile in a hot solution and leave there for 30 minutes.

After that, the product must be taken out and dried.

In today's consumer market, there is now a wide selection of different enamels and primers that simplify the process of painting aluminum profiles.

The work must be done in stages:

• clean the aluminum part using sandpaper;
• degrease;
• apply the first layer of enamel and primer, while the degreaser should not have time to dry;
• after the first layer of dye has dried, two more layers are applied, with an interval between each staining of 8 hours;
• when the painting is completed and the metal is completely dry, it must be covered with a thick layer of special varnish.

Of course, it is best to buy an already painted profile or trust the painting to professionals.

But if you decide to do this work yourself at home, follow the important recommendations.

1. The process is best carried out in a well-ventilated area so that dye fumes are not trapped in the air.
2. There should be no flammable substances or chemical reagents near the workplace.
3. The room should be clean and humid.
4. Use personal protective equipment. It is imperative to wear protective gloves, a mask or overalls, if available. Absolutely all parts of the body should be covered.