Selection of ACP Thickness (Based on Application Scenarios) 1. Signage & Indoor Decoration: 3mm aluminum composite panels Lightweight and cost-effective, easy to groove and cut, with even color rendering for UV printing. Ideal for store signs, indoor feature walls and small display boards.
2. Outdoor Storefronts, Building Curtain Walls & Exterior Projects: 4mm ACP is widely used; 5mm panels are adopted for certain projects. Greater rigidity, strong wind pressure resistance and excellent anti-deformation performance. When coated with PVDF fluorocarbon paint, the panels withstand long-term sun and rain exposure, offering an outdoor service life of 15 to 20 years.
Selection of Surface Coatings (Coating determines weather resistance; premium coatings prevent discoloration for decades)
1. PE Polyester Coating – Cost-effective option Suitable for indoor use or short-term outdoor advertisements. Affordable with average weather resistance; fading and chalking will occur after 3–5 years outdoors.
2. PVDF Fluorocarbon Coating (Kynar 500) – Premium grade for exterior use Excellent UV resistance, corrosion resistance and acid rain resistance with zero fading. The top choice for curtain walls and high-end storefronts in coastal, high-temperature or frigid regions, with an outdoor lifespan of over 15 years.
3. In addition, the paint brand is critical. Low-grade paint is cheap yet prone to fading rapidly. Always choose panels coated with high-quality branded paint, as it directly determines the service life of your ACP.
Selection of Aluminum Skin Thickness (The aluminum skin thickness affecting ACP quality and price)
Thicker aluminum skins deliver better flatness and deformation resistance.
Standard aluminum skins for 3mm signage panels: 0.21mm / 0.30mm Recommended aluminum skins for 4mm curtain wall panels: 0.3mm, 0.40mm, 0.50mm. Taller curtain walls require thicker skins for stronger wind resistance. Tip: Cheap inferior panels adopt ultra-thin aluminum skins, which crack easily during grooving and bending, and warp unevenly in a short time when installed outdoors.
Selection of Fire Ratings for ACP 1. Standard non-fire-resistant PE core: Low-cost, suitable for ordinary shops, outdoor advertisements and indoor decoration.
2. Fire-retardant FR core: Mandatory for public buildings with strict fire codes, such as office towers, shopping malls, hospitals and metro stations.
Selection of Core Materials ACP cores fall into two categories: flexible bendable cores and brittle breakable cores.
Flexible bendable cores feature great toughness and no cracking after grooving and bending, perfect for complex shapes and curved projects.
Brittle breakable cores have poor flexibility, only applicable for flat panel installation without special forming demands.
Tip: Low-cost recycled waste cores contain abundant impurities and are brittle, prone to cracking when processed at low temperatures. Not recommended for long-term exterior construction projects.
Selection of ACP Colors Available finishes: matte, high-gloss, metallic brushed, mirror, wood grain, stone grain, etc.
Matte white panels are the best option for advertising UV printing to achieve superior color rendering.
Matte colors are prioritized for large-area exterior wall projects, featuring favorable cost performance and strong anti-fading performance.
