PE Color-Coated Aluminum Coil

c

I. Chemical Structure Determines Lifespan

1. PE (Polyester) coatings have a carbon-ester bond as their backbone, with a bond energy of approximately 320 kJ/mol, and are susceptible to breakage under long-term UV exposure.

2. PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride) has a fluorine-carbon bond as its backbone, with a bond energy of approximately 485 kJ/mol and a dense molecular structure.

After 4,000 hours of Q-SUN testing in the laboratory, the PE coating had a ΔE of approximately 3.5, while the PVDF coating had a ΔE of ≤1.0.

II. Coating Thickness and Cost

• PE: Single coating 16–18 µm, factory quote approximately equal to the aluminum ingot price + 2,200 RMB/ton;

• PVDF: Double coating 26–28 µm, factory quote approximately equal to the aluminum ingot price + 5,500 RMB/ton.

Conversion: 0.7 mm × 1,200 mm coil, PE costs approximately 33 yuan per square meter, PVDF approximately 52 yuan (2025-07 aluminum ingot price 19,500 yuan/ton).

III. Applications

PE: Indoor ceilings, billboards, appliance housings, and short-term turnover projects.

PVDF: Airport terminals, high-speed rail stations, coastal curtain walls, and roof standing seam systems.

IV. Processing Differences

• Bending: Both can be bent to 0°C without cracking, but PE has slightly greater springback.

• Welding: PE coating begins to soften at 220°C, while PVDF requires 250°C, making PE more suitable for thermally laminated aluminum-plastic panels.

5. Environmental Protection and Recycling

Both materials are chromium-free and RoHS-compliant. Because PVDF contains fluorine, it requires high temperatures above 1100°C for incineration, but its aluminum recovery rate is still over 90%.

In a nutshell: For indoor applications with a limited budget, choose PE.

For outdoor applications, high-rise buildings, coastal areas, or landmark buildings, go directly to PVDF.