Tag: Aluminum and Glass Supplier Philippines

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Thermal Conductivity in Stainless Steel and Aluminum

Thermal Conductivity In Stainless Steel And Aluminum

How are stainless steel and aluminum different in terms of thermal conductivity?

  1. Aluminum has better thermal conductivity
  2. High and low thermal conductivity are both useful
  3. Industries that benefit from high or low thermal conductivity

 

Stainless steel and aluminum have long been lauded as one of the most useful industrial materials being used today. Many different industries at different levels benefit from their use, thanks to their many wonderful characteristics. Aside from strength, durability, and versatility, aluminum and stainless steel have other attributes that make them truly useful.

One such attribute is thermal conductivity. This is the process by which thermal energy is transferred through matter and is usually measured in watts per kelvin per meter. Lower thermal conductivity means a lower rate of heat transfer while higher thermal conductivity means efficiency in conducting heat.

If you want to know more about the thermal conductivity of stainless steel and aluminum then continue reading because it could prove useful for you and your future industrial endeavors.

 

Aluminum has better thermal conductivity

Metal Texture Background

Right off the bat, the first thing of note between the two industrial materials is that aluminum has ‘better’ thermal conductivity. Important to note here that having high or low thermal conductivity is not inherently good nor bad. Aluminum simply has a relatively higher thermal conductivity. On the other hand, stainless steel has one of the lowest thermal conductivities for metal alloys.

Another metric used to track thermal conductivity is the British thermal unit (BTU), which uses a number to represent the ability of a material to conduct heat. Aluminum has BTU of 118 while steel has 17. Comparing both to another material like copper, which has a BTU of 223, aluminum can still be a better option because it is lighter, cheaper, and easier to work with and manipulate thanks to its low melting point. Aluminum is also the most abundant metal found in the earth’s crust, making it more accessible than other choices.

 

High and low thermal conductivity are both useful

Both high and low thermal conductivity is useful for many different applications. You just have to know which specific metal can get the job done for you. Aluminum conducts heat well and this makes it good for heat exchangers, heat sinks, and even for cooking materials such as pots and pans.

Since stainless steel is poor at conducting heat, it is better for manufacturing products that are exposed to high-temperature and corrosive environments such as automotive and aircrafts parts like engines and airconditioning systems. Using stainless steel can result in better energy efficiency which eventually leads to savings in the long run.

 

Industries that benefit from high or low thermal conductivity

Clean Saucepan On A Gas Stove In Kitchen

There are many specific industries beyond that value a material’s thermal conductivity, regardless if they are high or low. For example, the construction industry is known for using stainless steel for countless structures and their parts. It is good for building facades, foundations, curtain walls, and other architecturally exposed structure designs. The food industry also uses stainless steel to keep production processes stable where heat is involved. This can be seen in ovens and conveyor belts.

As for aluminum, the automotive and aerospace industries are its biggest beneficiaries because many car and airplane parts are made using aluminum. In fact, most air and spacecraft are made primarily using aluminum with the Boeing 737, the best-selling jet commercial airliner, being 80% aluminum. Even in small-scale product manufacturing, aluminum is widely used. It is a crucial component of light-emitting diodes or L.E.D lights, heat exchangers in electronics, and is also used for packaging, the second-biggest consumer of aluminum.

Aluminum is more malleable and elastic than steel. Aluminum can be used to form different shapes

 

Key Takeaway

The concept of thermal conductivity is complex, but knowing how and why they matter to many industries and manufacturing processes can be useful in helping you choose the right kind of metal alloy or material for future endeavors. Both stainless steel and aluminum are great, but it’s their less-popular qualities like their ability to conduct heat at varying levels that can make the difference.

Click here if you want to know more about aluminum and stainless steel because there is certainly more to know about these wonderful metals.

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Understanding Low-E Glass and Its Applications

Urban Scene Skyline Morning View Metropolis Concept

What is Low-E glass and what are its applications

  1. Low-E glass is an energy-efficient glass
  2. Low-E glass can make your home or building more comfortable
  3. There are two types of Low-E coatings

 

When it comes to glass, the type to be used for a given purpose is usually one of the last things people think about. Sure you have probably heard of bulletproof and tempered glass, but there is another type that is relatively unknown: Low-E glass. That being said, knowing what the nature of Low-E glass and its applications can be helpful when it comes to your endeavors that require the use of glass.

Before getting into the specific details and features of Low-E glass, it is important to first understand how sunlight works and how it can affect your home or any other building. Sunlight contains different forms of energy such as light and heat thanks to electromagnetic radiation. You can perceive some of this radiation within a spectrum as the light and colors you can see in a rainbow, but light also exists outside of that spectrum.

Other types of light that we can’t perceive but exist include infrared and ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet rays from the sun are what causes sunburns while you feel infrared radiation from sources of heat such as a fire, furnace, or oven. It is these three elements (visible light, infrared and ultraviolet) that Low-E glass and its applications are concerned with.

 

Low-E glass is an energy-efficient glass

Low E Glass Is An Energy Efficient Glass1

Now that you understand some of the basic concepts surrounding low-emissivity glass, the reason why it is considered to be an energy-efficient glass is that it minimizes the amount of infrared and ultraviolet light that passes through it, without affecting the amount of light that passes through.

This is thanks to an exceptionally thin layer of coating that is usually made from two or more layers of metal or metallic oxide. This is specifically made to block out unnecessary electromagnetic radiation. Low-E glass seeks to make any building have a consistent temperature by reflecting the interior temperature back inside while keeping ultraviolet and infrared rays out.

 

Low-E glass can make your home or building more comfortable

Since Low-E glass makes the temperature of buildings more consistent, a comfortable atmosphere is usually achieved when it is applied to windows and other openings that allow light to pass through. The most common window set-up is either a double or triple-glazed unit wherein two or more glass panes are separated by a spacer and a gas-filled space — argon, and krypton being the inert gas of choice. Gas is needed to prevent heat from escaping in air drafts.

Thanks to this kind of set-up, heat transfer is reduced and optimal thermal insulation is achieved — resulting in a more comfortable experience for the people inside the building regardless of whether it is sweltering or snowy outside.

 

There are two types of Low-E coatings

Sliding Glass Door Detail And Rail Embed In Floor

As mentioned above, low-emissivity glass relies on a thin coating of metal/metallic oxides to do the blocking of unwanted electromagnetic radiation. That being said, there are two kinds of Low-E coatings that you would do well to know.

 

Passive Low-E Coating

Passive Low-E coatings are made through the pyrolytic “hard-coat” process which produces a coating that is best used in very cold environments. The durable pyrolytic coating allows some of the sun’s short-wave infrared energy to pass through the glass, giving the building a form of “passive” natural heating. This helps you save money on electricity since you rely less on space heaters and other artificial heating methods.

 

Solar Control Low-E Coatings

If passive Low-E coating is made through the hard coat, pyrolytic process, then the solar control Low-E coating has the Magnetron Sputtering Vapor Deposition (MSVD) process. This coating, which is also called “soft-coat”, needs to be sealed in an insulated or laminated glass. What you’re getting with this coat when compared to the previous type of coating is superior resistance to the sun’s radiation.

It is for that exact reason why solar control Low-E is the preferred coating for cold to hot climates. Since it offers better UV and infrared protection it keeps buildings cooler and reduces air conditioning-related energy consumption.

 

Key Takeaway

If you are looking for a way to give your home or building better insulation and protection from the sun’s electromagnetic radiation, then Low-E glass can be a great option. With Low-E coating options available that are applicable for different climates, it is convenient regardless of your location.

When you’re trying to decide which window size, style, and design are best for your building, you should also consider the type of glass you are going to be using. Not only does Low-E glass provide practical use and protection, but it can also be a source of energy efficiency and savings.