- What is Hydrophilic Aluminum Foil
- Hydrophilic aluminum foil properties
- Advantages of Hydrophilic Aluminum Foil
- Common Specifications of Hydrophilic Aluminium Foil
- Hydrophilic Foil Coating Performance
- Applications of Hydrophilic Aluminum Foil
- Production Process of Hydrophilic Aluminum Foil
- Structure of hydrophilic aluminum foil
- Hydrophilic aluminum foil storage
Hydrophilic aluminum foil is engineered to possess water-attracting properties, making it ideal for specific applications where moisture management is crucial.
Hydrophilic aluminum foil is an aluminum foil that has been degreased, washed, and dried, and then coated with a special coating on both surfaces. After drying and cooling, it becomes a very hydrophilic and corrosion-resistant material.
Hydrophilic aluminum foil can extend the service life of air conditioners. With a service life of 5-10 years, it is the main raw material for heat exchange fins in household air conditioners.
What is Hydrophilic Aluminum Foil
Hydrophilic aluminum foil is an aluminum foil treated with a special process and covered with a hydrophilic layer on its surface. The condensed water will spread quickly on the hydrophilic aluminum foil and will not condense into water droplets. This increases the heat exchange area and speeds up the refrigeration process. The heat speed also effectively avoids the noise caused by condensation water blocking the air flow.
The primary purpose of hydrophilic aluminum foil is to improve its performance in applications where effective moisture management is essential.
In air conditioning and refrigeration systems, hydrophilic aluminum foil is commonly used in the manufacturing of heat exchangers. The enhanced wettability helps in the condensation of moisture, improving the efficiency of heat exchange processes. In the realm of packaging, especially for products sensitive to humidity, hydrophilic aluminum foil can prevent moisture-related issues, ensuring the preservation and integrity of the packaged items.
Hydrophilic aluminum foil is the main raw material for heat exchangers in household air conditioners and has a great impact on the efficiency of air conditioners. If the raw material of the heat exchanger is hydrophilic aluminum foil, the refrigeration efficiency can be increased by 5%. It is also anti-corrosion and anti-mold, has no odor, and will not cause the accumulation of water droplets to block the heat exchange.
Hydrophilic aluminum foil properties
The surface of hydrophilic aluminum foil is highly hydrophilic. Hydrophilicity is determined by the angle formed by water adhering to the surface of the aluminum foil. The smaller the angle a is, the better the hydrophilic property is; conversely, the worse the hydrophilic property is. Generally speaking, angle a is less than 35°.
Hydrophilic property: Its main function is to make the moisture in the hot air condense into water droplets on the heat exchange fins to easily spread and flow down the sheet. This can avoid "bridging" of water droplets between the heat exchange fins and affect the ventilation effect of the heat exchanger, thus improving the heat exchange rate of the air conditioner and saving electricity bills with the same cooling capacity.
The commonly used hydrophilic aluminum foil currently on the market not only has good hydrophilicity on the surface, but also has high corrosion resistance, making the performance of air conditioners more optimized.
Advantages of Hydrophilic Aluminum Foil
Hydrophilic foil is the main raw material for heat exchange sheets in air conditioners. It is widely used in refrigeration equipment such as household air conditioners, refrigerators, and automobile air conditioners. Compared with ordinary light foil, it has the following advantages:
- Improved Heat Exchange Efficiency: The air flow resistance is small, and the heat exchange rate can generally be increased by 10%-15%.
- Increased Refrigerating Efficiency: The use of hydrophilic aluminum foil in heat exchangers can lead to a significant increase in refrigerating efficiency, potentially up to 5%.
- Corrosion Resistance: Hydrophilic aluminum foil exhibits corrosion resistance, making it durable and suitable for applications where exposure to moisture is common.
- Mildew Resistance: The material's resistance to mildew growth ensures a longer lifespan, especially in environments with high humidity levels.
- Odor-Free Properties: Hydrophilic aluminum foil does not produce unpleasant odors, making it suitable for applications where maintaining a clean and odor-free environment is important.
Common Specifications of Hydrophilic Aluminium Foil
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Alu Alloy | 1100, 1200, 3102, 8011 |
| Temper | O, H22, H24, H26 |
| Thickness | 0.02 – 0.25 mm |
| Width | 60 – 1440 mm |
| Color | Pure, Blue, Gold, Black, White |
| Application |
Air conditioning Ventilation systems Heating and cooling systems Thermal rotors Plate heat exchangers Coolers Evaporators Flexible tubes |
| Thickness and thickness Tolerance(mm) | 0.095～0.50 (±0.005) |
|---|---|
| Width and Width Tolerance(mm) | 50～1250 (±0.5) |
| ID(mm) | ￠75, ￠150, ￠200 ￠300 ￠400 ￠500 |
| Max OD (mm) | ￠≤1400 |
| Colors | Blue, Golden, Black, Green, Rosy Red, etc. |
| ID Material | Paper core, aluminium core |
Hydrophilic Foil Coating Performance
| Project Indicator | Technology Indicator | |
|---|---|---|
| Coating thickness | 1.0~3.0UM(The Average Thickness of Single Side) | |
| Hydrophilia | The Initial Hydrophilic Angle | The Initial Hydrophilic Angle ≤5 |
| Continuous Hydrophilic Angle | Continuous Hydrophilic Angle≤25 | |
| Adhesive Force | Cupping Test(pressure deep 5mm):No Flaking: Grid experiment(100/100):No Delaminating | |
| Corrosion Resistance | Salt fog test(72 Hours)R.N≥9.5 | |
| Alkali Resistance | With 20 degree centigrade , soak in the 20%NaOH with 3 Minutes, the sample coating layer totally no frothing | |
| Solvent Resistance | Weight loss of Sample≤1% | |
| Heat Resistance | Under 200 degrees Celsius, Keep for 5 minutes, Properties and the color remains the same;Under 300 degrees Celsius, Keep for 5 minutes, Coating layer just become light yellow. | |
| Oil Resistivity | In the volatile oil soaked for 24 hours, Coating layer has no frothing | |
| Coating Smell | No off-smell | |
| To the mold wear | Same as the ordinary aluminium foil | |
Applications of Hydrophilic Aluminum Foil
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Hydrophilic Aluminum Foil
Hydrophilic aluminum foil is extensively used in the manufacturing of heat exchangers for air conditioning and refrigeration systems. The enhanced wettability ensures efficient heat exchange by promoting the condensation of moisture on the foil's surface.
- Alloy: Typically, hydrophilic aluminum foil for air conditioning and refrigeration applications is made from alloys such as 8011.
- Thickness: Common thickness ranges from 0.08 to 0.20 mm.
Hydrophilic aluminum foil is the main raw material for household air-conditioning heat exchangers and will not cause water droplets to accumulate and affect heat transfer. Since there are no water droplets, the noise caused by vibration is also reduced accordingly; it prevents air conditioning powder from blowing into the room and causing adverse effects on the human body, which complies with environmental protection requirements. Hydrophilic aluminum foil for air conditioners should comply with YS/T95.2-2001.
Production Process of Hydrophilic Aluminum Foil
Plain foil, cleaning, coating (hydrophilic layer, anti-corrosion layer), segmentation, finished hydrophilic foil
Hydrophilic foil is the main raw material for heat exchange fins in air conditioners. Widely used in refrigeration equipment such as household air conditioners, refrigerators, and automobile air conditioners.
The production of hydrophilic aluminum foil involves several key steps:
- Aluminum Coil Preparation: High-quality aluminum coils, often of alloys like 8011, are prepared for the coating process.
- Surface Treatment: The aluminum coil undergoes a surface treatment process to create a hydrophilic layer. This treatment can involve chemical processes that modify the surface properties of the aluminum.
- Coating Application: The hydrophilic coating is applied to the aluminum surface. This coating is designed to enhance wettability, resist corrosion, prevent mildew growth, and offer other desired properties.
- Drying and Curing: The coated aluminum is subjected to a drying and curing process to ensure the adhesion and durability of the hydrophilic layer.
- Quality Control: The finished hydrophilic aluminum foil undergoes quality control checks to ensure it meets the specified standards and requirements for the intended application.
- Rolling and Cutting: The coated aluminum foil is rolled into coils or sheets and cut to the required dimensions for further use in specific applications.
Structure of hydrophilic aluminum foil
Hydrophilic aluminum foil is a special type of aluminum foil that has been treated to have a hydrophilic (water-absorbent) surface. This treatment is commonly used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, especially in the construction of heat exchanger fins. The hydrophilic surface helps improve heat transfer efficiency by promoting the condensation of moisture on the fin surface. Here is a brief introduction to the structure of hydrophilic aluminum foil:
- Base material aluminum foil: The core material is standard aluminum foil. Usually made of high-quality pure aluminum, rolled into thin sheets.
- Hydrophilic Coating: Hydrophilic properties are achieved by applying a specialized coating to one or both sides of the aluminum foil.
- Surface treatment: Hydrophilic coatings are usually applied through a chemical or electrochemical process to make them more attractive to water molecules.
- Microstructure: Hydrophilic treatment changes the surface of the aluminum foil, reducing its contact angle with water droplets. This means that the water droplets spread and form a film on the surface, rather than beading up.
Hydrophilic aluminum foil storage
- Dry environment: Store hydrophilic aluminum foil in a dry environment with low humidity. Moisture can affect the hydrophilic properties of the foil and cause degradation.
- Temperature Control: Keep storage area temperatures stable. Extreme temperatures can affect the structural integrity and performance of foils.
- Protect from contaminants: Keep hydrophilic foil away from dust, dirt, and other contaminants that may affect its surface or hydrophilic coating.
Hydrophilic aluminum foil represents a significant advancement in material science, addressing the need for moisture management in various industries. Its properties make it an invaluable choice for applications ranging from air conditioning systems to medical packaging and electronics manufacturing.
As technology continues to advance, the role of hydrophilic aluminum foil is likely to expand, contributing to more efficient and durable products across diverse industries.