With so many roofing materials on the market, why has aluminum shingle become a new roofing option?

一、Aluminum roof tile forming process

The forming process determines the dimensional accuracy, structural strength, and construction efficiency of aluminum roofing sheets.

1. Substrate preparation: Selecting the right alloy is the first step.

The base material for aluminum roofing sheets is typically made of 3003, 3004, or 5052 aluminum alloy coils. Why not pure aluminum? Because pure aluminum (1-series) has lower strength and is insufficient in terms of roof load-bearing capacity and wind pressure resistance.

3003 aluminum-manganese alloy: With the addition of approximately 1.2% manganese, its strength is about 20% higher than that of pure aluminum, making it the mainstream choice for aluminum roofing sheets .

5052 aluminum-magnesium alloy: higher strength, outstanding resistance to seawater corrosion, suitable for coastal projects .

The substrate thickness is typically between 0.5mm and 1.5mm.

2. Roll forming: from flat sheet to corrugated sheet

The core forming process of aluminum roofing sheets is roll forming. At room temperature, aluminum coils are passed through a set of precision roller dies and continuously cold-bent to gradually form the required corrugated cross-section.

Common board types include:

Type 750 (35mm wave height): Suitable for large-span factory buildings, with strong drainage and wind pressure resistance.

Model 840: A mainstream model on the market, offering high cost-performance and a wide range of applications.

Type 900 (low wave height): Suitable for wall cladding panels and light-load roofs.

Type 836 corrugated roofing sheets: with a soft appearance and rounded crests, suitable for residential and villa projects.

3. Surface treatment: The coating determines the 'face' of the product.

After roll forming, aluminum tiles need to undergo surface treatment before they can leave the factory.

There are two main technical approaches:

Roller coating: The aluminum coil is coated before forming (coating before forming), resulting in extremely high coating uniformity and a color difference ΔE ≤ 0.5, which is almost imperceptible to the naked eye. This process is suitable for mass standardized production and is also DIXXIN 's core technology.

Spray coating: Aluminum tiles are sprayed one by one after forming (forming first and then coating), which is suitable for irregular parts and small batch orders. However, the uniformity of the coating and the control of color difference are not as good as roller coating. When used on a large area, a 'patchy' phenomenon may occur.

4. Cutting and Packaging

We cut the food to the required length according to the customer's specifications, and then pack it. For export orders, packaging is particularly important:

Wooden pallets: bearing ISPM15 fumigation markings, meeting destination port clearance requirements.

Stretch film: Moisture-proof treatment

Cardboard separation: Cardboard is placed between each layer of board to prevent scratches on the coating caused by friction during transportation.

II. Material Properties of Aluminum Roofing

1. Innate corrosion resistance and 'self-healing' ability

The corrosion resistance of aluminum roofing sheets comes from their unique material properties.

When aluminum is exposed to air, a dense aluminum oxide film (Al₂O₃) instantly forms on its surface.

This membrane has three key characteristics:

High hardness: harder than the aluminum substrate itself, and resistant to general abrasion.

Chemically stable: resistant to acids and alkalis, resistant to salt spray, and insoluble in water.

Self-healing: Even if scratched, the exposed fresh aluminum will immediately re-oxidize, forming a new protective layer .

This means that aluminum roofing sheets do not rely on coatings to prevent rust like corrugated steel roofing sheets—aluminum itself is not rust-resistant. Once the coating is damaged, the steel substrate of corrugated steel roofing sheets will corrode quickly; while the aluminum substrate of aluminum roofing sheets remains safe.

2. Lightweight and high-strength, reducing structural load.

Aluminum has a density of 2.70 g/cm³, only one-third that of steel. For the same thickness, aluminum roofing sheets are about 65% lighter than corrugated steel roofing sheets. For large-span roofs (such as factories, warehouses, and airport terminals), this characteristic directly translates to:

Lighter steel structures: reduce steel consumption by 5-10% .

Faster installation speed: Lightweight materials make handling and installation more efficient.

Renovation friendly for old buildings: No need to reinforce the original structure

3. Fluorocarbon coating: Designed for extreme environments

High-quality aluminum roofing sheets typically have a fluorocarbon coating (PVDF coating) applied over the substrate. The key indicator for fluorocarbon coatings is the fluorocarbon resin content—national standards require it to be no less than 70%.

III. A single table to understand: Aluminum roofing sheets vs. three major competitors

Summary: The 'Value Formula' of Aluminum Roofing

The value of aluminum roofing sheets can be expressed by a simple formula:

The value of aluminum roofing sheets = lightweight (cost-saving) + maintenance-free (worry-free) + long lifespan (convenience) - initial investment

When a project's lifespan exceeds 10 years, the result of this formula is often positive.

For engineering projects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia—whether large factories, commercial buildings, or high-end residences—aluminum roofing tiles offer a 'two-for-one' solution: they must be durable and corrosion-resistant, lightweight and easy to install; they must be aesthetically pleasing and textured, and the total cost must be controllable.