ACM panel - your thoughts?

[aggie79]

Tom,

Sounds worth exploring. Could you post a link to the ACM panels that you're considering? Have you had your hands on a piece or can you get a sample to experiment with?

Thank you, Fred

Fred,

I've only handled small sample sizes - 4" square or so - of the ACM material. The product is very rigid. For the panels with .020 aluminum on each side of the polyethylene core, the panel is slightly heavier than .040 solid aluminum. But, it is rigid enough that you could eliminate the plywood backing for a framed and insulated sidewall, and save construction time and weight.

Here are a few links to the product:

http://www.signabond.com/signabond_lite.htm
http://alumetsupply.com/ACM.html
http://www.nudo.com/Sign-Panels/Functional/PolyMetal.aspx

Take care,
Tom

[Larry C]

Tom,

Sounds worth exploring. Could you post a link to the ACM panels that you're considering? Have you had your hands on a piece or can you get a sample to experiment with?

Thank you, Fred

Fred,

I've only handled small sample sizes - 4" square or so - of the ACM material. The product is very rigid. For the panels with .020 aluminum on each side of the polyethylene core, the panel is slightly heavier than .040 solid aluminum. But, it is rigid enough that you could eliminate the plywood backing for a framed and insulated sidewall, and save construction time and weight.

Here are a few links to the product:

http://www.signabond.com/signabond_lite.htm
http://alumetsupply.com/ACM.html
http://www.nudo.com/Sign-Panels/Functional/PolyMetal.aspx

Take care,
Tom

Tom,
Have you checked the dent/scratch resistance of the .020" outer skin? I don't doubt the panel strength, just the outer skins resistance to impact. It may in fact be better that thicker aluminum over plywood , but I would try the hammer test myself .
Also, you could even make your own panel by gluing the aluminum you already know how to work with, directly to 3mm Baltic Birch or better yet 3mm marine plywood. This would give you a thicker, impact resistant outer skin. The panels could be bench built using epoxy or one of the contact cements that will work. Just a thought....

Larry

[aggie79]

Larry,
Even though I mentioned that ACM panels are use for signs, it is also used as an exterior finish material for buildings. It is not applied over any sheathing; it is attached to framing. It used quite a lot here in hail country so I'm not worried about impact resistance. I'm more concerned about tears and punctures even though I think these would be minimal.
Take care, Tom

[Larry C]

For the panels with .020 aluminum on each side of the polyethylene core, the panel is slightly heavier than .040 solid aluminum.

Here are a few links to the product:

http://www.signabond.com/signabond_lite.htm
http://alumetsupply.com/ACM.html
http://www.nudo.com/Sign-Panels/Functional/PolyMetal.aspx

Take care,
Tom

Tom,
When you indicate the aluminum skin thickness is .020 I assumed that was .020" (20 thousandths inch). However, after looking at the first link, I find the skin thickness is actually .20 MM which is less than .008" a human hair is .003"
That's pretty thin, but as you mentioned it is used for signs and building exteriors, it must work pretty good. Maybe the HDPE core absorbs impacts without denting the skin? It would be interesting to get a piece and do some destructive testing. Is it expensive?

[alaska teardrop]

Hi Tom, Thanks for the links. Some thoughts......

You're correct. The panel by itself wouldn't provide much insulation. And in Texas, we get hit with high as well as low temperature extremes.

By its nature the ACM panel has a "built-in" thermal brake compared to aluminum sheeting. In addition, I had planned on insulating the framing which will be at least 3/4" thick, but most likely thicker. The interior would be sheathed in either t&g cedar or birch plywood.

The ACM core is low density plastic. I don't think that there is any insulation value or that it could be considered a thermal break between the aluminum & wood.

I am thinking of using aluminum composite material in my sidewall construction. These panels are "sandwich construction" with 0.012 aluminum sheets front and back with a solid polyethylene core. The panels I'm looking to use are 3 mm thick. ACM panels are used in the sign industry and as an exterior finish building material. A 4'x8' panel weighs about the same as the same size sheet as 0.040 aluminum. The reason for use of the ACM panels is that they are much more rigid than sheet aluminum and I could eliminate the plywood backing on the framing.

Weights: 3mm ACM=.875#/sf. .040" AL=.570#/sf. .050" Al=.713#/sf. .063"AL=.898#/sf.

Part of my consideration of the ACM panel is that I plan for a few fixed windows on the sides. The thickness of the ACM panel would allow me to using flexible rubber window channel and glass panes for these "non-square" windows.

From my other post, since I am considering a more traditional plywood "backer" on the front, I may do that for the sides as well. Then I could use standard aluminum sheeting. The challenge would then be how to do the fixed windows.

So I was thinking. How about .063" aluminum secured to the wood frame with glue & screws (no plywood backing)? Aluminum flat bar riveted and/or VHB taped around the inside of the window openings to make up the proper thickness for the window seal?

Fred