Composite panel or solid aluminium panel: how to choose

Composite panel bonds two thin aluminium skins to a core; solid panel is a single sheet of aluminium folded into a cassette. Composite is flatter and lighter for the same visual result and routs very cleanly, which makes fabrication fast. Solid panel is one piece of metal, so it folds to sharper returns, takes heavier perforation, survives handling better and carries no core to specify. On exterior work the core's fire performance is the decisive question.

Key points

• Composite gives exceptional flatness and fast fabrication; solid gives sharper folds and better damage tolerance
• Solid panel is a single metal sheet, so there is no core specification to justify against fire regulations
• Perforation and heavy CNC work suit solid panel; composite is better for large plain areas
• Core type on composite must be confirmed against the destination market's building regulations

Published by: Foshan Qi Aluminum Decorative Materials Co., Ltd.