What is this material?

[jimmy2x2x]

I was walking home from town today, and passed a skip being used by a sign fitting company

A small sheet of aluminium caught my eye, I grabbed it intending to dremel it for the rear panel on my project.

When I got home I noticed that is wasn't all aluminium, I has a an aluminium face on either side with some kind of plastic/plexi/perspex inside it.

Its very easy to work with, heavy and very solid - this stuff will not bend.  I think it would be great for a control panel.

Anyway - here it is (part worked by me, not complete)

[SavannahLion]

Maybe it's Fire proof Aluminum Composite Panels (Note: They have ---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?--- anti-C&P javascript going on there. So I wouldn't bother with their business).

I found it by Googling "plastic core aluminum".

All the suppliers I could find come out of China, Couldn't locate a U.S. supplier.

[BobA]

Check this link

[jimmy2x2x]

Many thanks, Your knowledge of scientific biological transmogrifications is only outmatched by your zest for google-fu treachery.

[patrickl]

It's probably very toxic and can only be machined while using a gass mask

[jimmy2x2x]

hahaha (I hope!)

Well this stuff is great, I really want to make my CP from it

Im going to stop by the skip again, see if I can scrounge some more - I will try and talk to the workmen if they are around see if they have any offcuts

[TOK]

Bring a case of beer! 

[Benevolance]

And wear your safety goggles.

[bkenobi]

NASA has worked with a similar material made from Titanium and Graphite panels sandwiched together.  I can't find a link to it, but it's often called TiGr (probably spelled differently, but pronounced "tiger").

I suspect that if you can find it, you would be looking at more expense for the CP base material than the rest of your next 3 cabinets!   

[ids]

Looks like it might also be good for the surface of an air-hockey table.  However, without seeing it directly, it's hard to say.  Is it as smooth and flat as they advertise?  A 4'x8' sheet is pretty cheap - if you live in china.  I bet shipping such a large thing would be very costly.  Google shows more localized sources, but no pricing.

[jimmy2x2x]

I couldn't imagine anything more flat, smooth or rigid - it really is perfect for our hobby.  Im trying to source some in the UK, not much luck.

[SavannahLion]

Based on BobA's link the U.S. supplier can be found at http://www.graphic-al.com/

Unfortunately, you have to inquiry for pricing.

Maybe if you contact them, they might be able to ship to the U.K. (expensive I know) or they might know who a U.K. supplier is.

[bkenobi]

Pricing is not provided, but they do allow for samples.  I'm ordering the OR product line to see what it's like.  I suspect they will be no larger than 6" squares (optimistically), but that might be enough to play around with!  Btw, I don't recommend a bunch of people order samples all at once unless you are truly interested or else the company will eat a bunch of unnecessary shipping costs.  Just my opinion though.   

[ids]

I spoke with a sales rep at Alcotex.  He says their product has a much higher quality finish than the chinese and indian products, which is why it's ~$5 per sq ft.  However, he pointed me to some local plastics and sign companies which would sell the cheaper stuff:

• http://www.proveer.com/
• http://www.emplastic.com
• http://www.acmesignsupplies.com/

[jimmy2x2x]

I visited my source today, and guess what? They are long gone! typical

ah well 

I haven't had time to pursue a UK supplier yet, but I will

[Beley]

Ive used this (or something similar) in a project i did a while back, the brand name was Dibond, we found it fairly easy to work with, ie cuts easily with most tools and were able to bend it in a fairly tight radius.  The problem we had in the end was that it got dented to easily and being the brushed aluminium finish the small dent showed up quite easily.

Here is a link to the exact material we used[/tt]]http://www.lairdplastics.com/content/view/496/71/

[bkenobi]

Link no worky.


I got an email from the graphic-al rep.  They will be sending the samples out soon.  As soon as I get them, I'll post my impression.  I think Beley nailed my concern on the head...the material may be easy to work, but how damage resistant is it.  I guess I'll find out soon!

[gryhnd]

Link no worky.

It was just a typo or stray letters in his tags.  Just remove the trailing [tt

http://www.lairdplastics.com/content/view/496/71