The light of science and technology: fiber foam aluminum adds luster to the building

Technology leads human development, and materials determine the superstructure. In recent years, with the rapid improvement of people's living standards, higher performance requirements have been put forward for applied materials that affect life. Not only in the special items of materials, but also in the multiple comprehensive performance, there have been greater changes. From waterproof, fireproof, to weather resistance and corrosion resistance; from sound absorption, sound insulation, to acoustic noise reduction; from light weight to high strength ratio; from energy absorption, shock absorption, to collision protection; from non-toxic, environmentally friendly, to green and recyclable ; From multi-color, multi-light, to colorful; from heat preservation, heat insulation, to warm in winter and cool in summer; from new, high-tech, to simple and easy processing......

The "13th Five-Year Plan Proposals" issued by the state further clearly stated that innovation is the first driving force for development. Innovation will surely lead all walks of life to reform the old system, old technology, and old production methods in all aspects and realize the overall transformation and upgrading of China's economy. This is especially true for the construction industry as a typical traditional industry. The four new types of construction enterprises, "new technology, new materials, new crafts, and new equipment" have been strongly advocated by the state. It has become a winning weapon respected by construction companies in the context of continuous changes in the market environment.

However, what kind of new technologies, new materials, new processes, and new products can gather so many performances and be perfectly combined?

1. The birth of optical fiber aluminum foam

Under the dual guidance of national policy and market environment, Anhui Yiming New Material Technology Co., Ltd., as the only domestic foam aluminum new material field that runs through R&D, production and application product development, combines the R&D advantages of its own technical experts and the performance of foam aluminum products Advantages, with a core team derived from Tsinghua Technology, innovatively developed a new technology, new materials, new processes, and new products-"Fiber Optic Aluminum Foam", breaking the international monopoly on such high-tech and new materials. Filled up the domestic gap. Yiming New Materials already has a number of core patents for optical fiber foams, and has completed the comprehensive protection of this technology. The high added value of the industrial chain it leads also provides a great weapon for many domestic enterprises in the transformation and upgrading of the industry.

It is reported that aluminum foam is a new type of light metal material produced by aluminum alloy foaming. It has low density, high specific strength, and has many excellent properties such as sound absorption and sound insulation, energy absorption and buffering, flame retardant and explosion-proof. It is widely used in military aerospace, rail transit, and ship manufacturing. And other cutting-edge equipment fields. Among the "Top Ten Most Potential New Materials in the Future" selected by foreign media, the foam aluminum material ranked sixth.

Picture 1: Diverse aluminum foams that can be colored and engraved

2. Overview of optical fiber foam aluminum

Optical fiber aluminum foam is formed by combining a new type of light metal material special foam aluminum produced by pure aluminum or aluminum alloy foaming with optical fibers, combining the advantages of their respective properties and permutations to form a new high-performance composite material. Light is transmitted from one end of the foam aluminum profile to the other through the optical fiber. When these profiles are placed in front of the light source, or when one side of the foam aluminum profile is brighter and the other side is darker, the foam aluminum profile can emit light. The shadow on the bright side appears in a sharp outline on the dark side of the foam aluminum profile. This special effect is like the same screen.

Figure 2: Reference image of the primary color effect of fiber optic foam aluminum during the day
Figure 3: Reference drawing of close-up effect of optical fiber aluminum foam
Picture 4: Reference picture of close-up effect of optical fiber aluminum foam light

Picture 5: Reference picture of colorful optical fiber aluminum foam effect at night

The optical fiber is composed of two layers of glass with different refractive indexes. The inner layer is an optical inner core with a diameter of several micrometers to several tens of micrometers, and the outer layer has a diameter of 0.1 to 0.2 mm. Generally, the refractive index of the inner core glass is 1% larger than that of the outer glass. According to the principle of light refraction and total reflection, when the angle at which the light hits the interface between the inner core and the outer layer is greater than the critical angle for total reflection, the light cannot pass through the interface and is completely reflected.

Figure 6: Principle of total reflection

Third, the performance of optical fiber foam aluminum

1. Fire-resistant and flame-retardant: 100% flame-retardant, in line with GB-8642 non-combustible materials (Grade A), especially at a high temperature of 1000 ℃, burning for one hour, can keep the structure complete, especially at high temperature, will not escape toxic gas;

2. Sound absorption and noise reduction: The sound absorption coefficient can reach above 0.7, and in a humid environment, it will not affect the acoustic performance degradation;

3. Corrosion resistance and weather resistance: the service life can reach more than 20 years, and it will not cause aging or shedding due to changes in the external wind and sun environment;

4. Visual beautification: The aluminum foam itself can be made in a variety of colors and carvings. At the same time, the fiber-optic foam aluminum wall is like a screen or a scanner. This effect makes people feel that the thickness and weight of the foam aluminum have disappeared, and can Make different textures and colors, and achieve its artistic effect under the light;

5. Thermal insulation: the thermal insulation performance is 100 times that of aluminum and 20 times that of steel, which is equivalent to marble. It has good thermal insulation performance and can achieve the effect of warming in winter and cooling in summer;

6. Energy saving and environmental protection: natural light or outside light can be collected, saving a lot of artificial light sources;

7. Energy absorption and buffering: combined with the foamed aluminum honeycomb metal structure, the damping and shock absorption performance is 5-10 times that of metal, which is the most ideal shock absorption material for comprehensive comparison, and has a certain explosion-proof and bullet-proof function;

8. Hydrophobic and non-hygroscopic: Hydrophobic material, basically non-hygroscopic;

9. Ultra-light and high-strength ratio: it can float on water, and its bending specific stiffness is 1.5 times that of steel;

10. Green and recyclable: it can be recycled again without causing any pollution to the environment.

Fourth, the application of optical fiber foam aluminum

Under the conditions of modern science and technology, the emergence of optical fiber aluminum foam materials has achieved great development in the physical characteristics, effect perception and functional properties of new foam aluminum materials and light-transmitting materials, better showing its material texture, and Different light irradiation makes the light more integrated, presents a strange visual form, and creates a unique plastic art performance.

Since the optical fiber occupies a small volume, the mechanical properties of the foamed aluminum are basically not affected, and it can be used as a building material. Therefore, this foamed aluminum can also be used for the load-bearing structure. The optical fiber foam aluminum can be made into garden building products, decorative panels, decorative blocks and curved surface waves in different occasions. It provides a powerful possibility of realization for the architect's artistic imagination and creation.

In addition, the new material of optical fiber foam aluminum, with its performance and aesthetic advantages, will play an irreplaceable role not only in the field of architectural decoration, but also in various fields such as rail transit and artwork manufacturing.

Figure 7: Reference diagram for the effect of optical fiber foam aluminum wall

Figure 8: Reference drawing of the exterior effect of the optical fiber foam aluminum building
Figure 9: Reference drawing of the outdoor architectural effect of fiber optic foam aluminum
Figure 10: Reference drawing of the effect of foreign fiber optic foam aluminum buildings
Figure 11: Reference drawing of the effect of foreign optical fiber foam aluminum buildings

Figure 12: Reference image of optical fiber aluminum foam street view
Figure 13: Reference drawing of optical fiber foam aluminum artwork effect