The Evaluation of Aluminium Building Material Surface Treatment Performance by a 20-Year Outdoor Exposure Test

Abstract

The Japan Aluminium Products Association (JAPA) had conducted a 20-year outdoor exposure test for 5 typical surface treatment products of aluminium building materials since 1988. The types of surface treatments applied included anodic oxide film, combined coating of anodic oxide and organic films (electrodeposition coating < clear coating, white coating >), and coloured coating (electrostatic coating < white coating: fluorine resin coating, acrylic resin coating >). The exposure tests had been carried out in 4 sites, which located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture and 2 sites in Toyama Prefecture. In this paper, long-term weatherability and durability of aluminium building materials under outdoor environment were evaluated through analysis upon impacts brought by the surface treatment specifications, the location of exposure sites and the exposure methods.