Thermal Break Aluminum Frame for Window
Aluminum window frames are light, strong, durable, and easily extruded
into the complex shapes required for window parts. Aluminum frames
are available in anodized and factory-baked enamel finishes that
are extremely durable and low-maintenance.
The biggest disadvantage of aluminum as a window frame material
is its high thermal conductance. It readily conducts heat, greatly
raising the overall U-factor of a window unit. In cold climates,
a simple aluminum frame can easily become cold enough to condense
moisture or frost on the inside surfaces of window frames. Even
more than the problem of heat loss, the condensation problem has
spurred development of better insulating aluminum frames.
The most common solution to the heat conduction problem of aluminum
frames is to provide a "thermal
break" by splitting the frame components into
interior and exterior pieces and use a less conductive material
to join them. The world leader of thermal break strip application
equipment is Azon USA Inc.
(www.azonintl.com)
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