Building Materials Report on

SUBMITTED TO:

SUBMITTED BY:

AR. DIPA SHAKYA

PRIYASHA SHRESTHA
(066/BAE/229)
RAJANI SHRESTHA
(066/BAE/231)

Acknowledgement
We would like to thank our Building materials lecturer Ar. Dipa Shakya for giving
us this report on Aluminium products by means of which we came to know about
the use of aluminium in various purposes, especially as a building material. Our
gratitude also goes to the aluminium products Distributors, Nu-tech for giving us
insight on aluminium products and their uses in Nepal.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgement................................................................................................... 2
Table of Contents..................................................................................................... 3
Introduction............................................................................................................. 4
Properties................................................................................................................ 4
Occurrence.............................................................................................................. 4
Advantages............................................................................................................. 5
Uses........................................................................................................................ 5
Uses in Nepal.......................................................................................................... 6
Aluminum Composite Panel (ACP)...........................................................................6
Application scope.................................................................................................... 6
Windows & Doors.................................................................................................... 7
Other Uses.............................................................................................................. 7
Corrosion resistance and anodization......................................................................8
Market Survey Photos.............................................................................................. 9
Conclusion............................................................................................................. 11

Introduction
Aluminium is the third most abundant material on earth after oxygen and silicon,
making up 8% of the earths crust. Aluminium is created from bauxite ore which is
mined from reserves all over the world. Aluminium is a non- ferrous metal. Pure
aluminium is a very soft metal and hence has to be alloyed with other metals, so
as to make it useful for structural purposes. Aluminium has been highly used as a
building material these days.

Properties
It is highly ductile and malleable metal. Its melting point is 658 degree C and S.G.
2.7. It is a very light metal and resists corrosion very effectively. It possesses
large toughness, and tensile strength. Its color is silvery white, having a high
luster. It can be rolled into sheets. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity.
Aluminium is a soft, durable metal, with appearance ranging from silvery to dull
gray, depending on the surface roughness. It is also insoluble in alcohol, though
it can be soluble in water in certain forms. The yield strength of pure aluminium is
711 MPa, while aluminium alloys have yield strengths ranging from 200 MPa to
600 MPa. Aluminium has about one-third the density and stiffness of steel. It is
easily machined, cast, drawn and extruded.

Occurrence
In the Earth's crust, aluminium is the most abundant (8.3% by weight) metallic
element. Because of its strong affinity to oxygen, it is almost never found in the
elemental state; instead it is found in oxides or silicates. Feldspars, the most
common group of minerals in the Earth's crust, are aluminosilicates. Native
aluminium metal can be found as a minor phase in low oxygen fugacity
environments, such as the interiors of certain volcanoes. People have proposed
a theory of its origin as resulting by reduction from tetrahydroxoaluminate
Al(OH)4- to metallic aluminium by bacteria.
It also occurs in the minerals beryl, cryolite, garnet, spinel and turquoise.[16]
Impurities in Al2O3, such as chromium or cobalt yield the gemstones ruby and
sapphire, respectively. Pure Al2O3, known as corundum, is one of the hardest
materials known.

Although aluminium is an extremely common and widespread element, the

common aluminium minerals are not economic sources of the metal. Almost all
metallic aluminium is produced from the ore bauxite (AlOx(OH)3-2x). Bauxite
occurs as a weathering product of low iron and silica bedrock in tropical climatic
conditions.

Advantages
The life cycle of aluminium products is measured in terms of decades rather than
years. As a building material it is durable, requiring little long term maintenance. It
is resistant to corrosion and common industrial pollutants giving aluminium
products a much longer life cycle even in extreme environmental conditions. It is
a material whose production has minimal long term impact to the environment, is
sustainable in terms of hundreds of years and endlessly recyclable. Aluminium
can rightly be said to be the ultimate building material and the building material of
choice for the future.

Uses
Some of the many uses for aluminium metal are in:

Transportation (automobiles, aircraft, trucks, railway cars, marine vessels,

bicycles etc.) as sheet, tube, castings etc.
Packaging (cans, foil, etc.)

Construction (windows, doors, siding, building wire, etc.)

A wide range of household items, from cooking utensils to baseball bats,

watches.

Street lighting poles, sailing ship masts, walking poles etc.

Outer shells of consumer electronics, also cases for equipment e.g.

photographic equipment.

Electrical transmission lines for power distribution

MKM steel and Alnico magnets

Super purity aluminium (SPA, 99.980% to 99.999% Al), used in electronics

and CDs.

Heat sinks for electronic appliances such as transistors and CPUs.

Substrate material of metal-core copper clad laminates used in high

brightness LED lighting.

Powdered aluminium is used in paint, and in pyrotechnics such as solid

rocket fuels and thermite.

Aluminium can be reacted with hydrochloric acid to form hydrogen gas.

A variety of countries, including France, Italy, Poland, Finland, Romania,

Israel, and the former Yugoslavia, have issued coins struck in aluminium or
aluminium-copper alloys.

Some guitar models sports aluminium diamond plates on the surface of the
instruments, usually either chrome or black. Kramer Guitars and Travis
Bean are both known for having produced guitars with necks made of
aluminium, which gives the instrument a very distinct sound.

Uses in Nepal
In Nepal, Aluminium products are imported from Thailand, China, etc. They are
widely used in doors and windows, in pipes and also in structural elements. In
the beginning, it used to be costlier but now it is cheaper than timber. Aluminium
is imported as channels, at the price of Rs.350 per kg. These channels are cut in
cutting machine called Double meter Saw which cuts the channels from two
different sides. They are trimmed and joined by machines. Drill holes provide
holes for nuts and bolts. In this way, although it is not manufactured in Nepal, the
finishing is done here.

Aluminum Composite Panel (ACP)

These panels are available in thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. They are
lightweight and easy to process. They have a high peeling strength with a super
weather resistance. They have excellent impact resistance and excellent
fireproof feature. They are easy to maintain and have an even coating. They are
available in multiple colors.

Application scope
1) Building outer wall, curtain wall board, airport, railway station, etc.
2) The old building is repacked and renovates.
3) Balcony, equipment unit, indoor compartment.
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4) Billboard, identification board, advertising signboard.

5) Install the panel, show stand shelf inside.
6) Industrial material, protecting the car body of the cold car.
Some of the examples are the automobile showrooms at Thapathali, Furniture
land at Maitighar, KFC at Durbarmarg and many other new buildings. Due to its
advantages as a building material and the aesthetics since it gives a modern look
to any building, its use is wide these days.

Windows & Doors

Aluminiium doors and windows are of different types from high tech to simple
ones. Aluminium can easily be joined with glass without causing any damage and
therefore can be used as windows. All types of doors such as sliding doors, hinge
doors, swing doors and even folding doors can be made. An auto sensor door
which may cost up to Rs. 100,000 is also made of aluminium and glass. The door
frame is made of aluminium channels and then inside the frame, channels can be
used as ventilators, particle boards or aluminium sheets can also be used.
Aluminium is also used for the control of door closure. Aluminium windows, like
the doors can be produced as per the architects desisgns, of any size and many
shapes. Eg. windows with manual ventilator, filter, vertical and horizontal slides,
etc. Structural glazing windows are widely used for faade treatments and
maximum lighting. There are also arched windows, casement windows, louvred
window and curtain wall window.
A typical aluminium window costs about Rs. 8000 while the same timber window
can be much expensive. Unlike timber, it is not affected by dampness. Anodized
aluminium doesnt conduct electricity and is available in metallic colors like luster
white, light & bronze, etc. With the help of efficient hardwares like rollers,
handles,arms, etc, aluminium doors and windows are much more easier and
comfortable in modern lifestyle.

Other Uses
Partition is one of the important uses of aluminium. Easy, lightweight partition is
used widely in offices, banks and other places where thick walls disturb the flow
of work. It can also be used to make showcase, portable staircases, etc.
Aluminium pipes are also used because they are resistant, durable and easy to

work with. It is also used in shop- fronts. Aluminium has also been used for
household wiring.

Corrosion resistance and anodization

Corrosion resistance can be excellent due to a thin surface layer of aluminium
oxide that forms when the metal is exposed to air, effectively preventing further
oxidation. The strongest aluminium alloys are less corrosion resistant due to
galvanic reactions with alloyed copper. This corrosion resistance is also often
greatly reduced when many aqueous salts are present, particularly in the
presence of dissimilar metals.
Anodizing involves placing a sheet of aluminum into a chemical acid bath, quite
often acetone in laboratory experiments. The sheet of aluminum becomes the
positive anode of a chemical battery and the acid bath becomes the negative. An
electric current passes through the acid, causing the surface of the aluminum to
oxidize (essentially rust). The oxidized aluminum forms a strong coating as it
replaces the original aluminum on the surface. The result is an extremely hard
substance called anodized aluminum.
Anodized aluminum can be nearly as hard as diamond under the right anodizing
process. Many modern buildings use anodized aluminum in places where the
metal framework is exposed to the elements. Anodized aluminum is also a
popular material for making high-end cookware such as frying pans and pots.
Heat is distributed evenly across anodized aluminum, and the process of
anodizing provides a naturally protective finish. It is possible to use another
electroplating process to make anodized aluminum look like copper or brass or
other metals. Special dyes can also be used to color the anodized aluminum for
decorative uses.
Because of its strength and durability, anodized aluminum is also used in a
number of other applications. Many of the satellites circling the Earth are
protected from space debris by layers of anodized aluminum. The automobile
industry relies heavily on anodized aluminum for trims and protective housings
for exposed parts. Furniture designers often use anodized aluminum as the
framework for outdoor pieces as well as the base metal for lamps and other

decorative items. Modern home appliances and computer systems may utilize
anodized aluminum as protective housing.

Market Survey Photos

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Conclusion
Thus Aluminium has become an important building material especially when it
comes to doors and windows, because of its strength and durability. Gaining
great popularity in Nepal as well, it has also been used widely as aluminium
composite panels. It can be anticipated that it will grow even more fame in the
years to come.

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