How to Choose Between Aluminum Alloy Solar Brackets and Steel Brackets?
2023-04-13 15:36
Nowadays, the common solar bracket materials on the market are mainly steel brackets and aluminum alloy brackets. How to choose between aluminum alloy solar brackets and steel brackets? We will give you a brief introduction from several aspects below.
The strength of steel (Q235B) is higher than that of the commonly used aluminum alloy type (6005-T5). Therefore, it is recommended to use steel brackets with large spans or high wind resistance requirements, which would meet the needs of strength. Aluminum alloy photovoltaic brackets are more used in general areas.
Deflection and cost
The deflection deformation of the structure is related to the shape and size of the profile, the modulus of elasticity (an inherent parameter of the material), but not directly related to the strength of the material. A comprehensive comparison of the two under the same cross-sectional conditions:
Material
Elastic Modulus
Density
70 Gpa
Under the same conditions, the deformation of aluminum alloy profiles is 2.9 times that of steel, and the weight is 35% of steel. The cost of aluminum profiles is three times that of steel under the same weight. Therefore, in the design of windy areas and relatively large spans, steel is superior to aluminum alloy profiles in terms of cost.
Anticorrosion performance
At present, the main anti-corrosion method of the bracket is hot-dip galvanizing of steel 55-80 μm and anodic oxidation of aluminum alloy 8-10 μm. In the atmospheric environment, the aluminum alloy is in the passivation zone, and a dense oxide film is formed on the surface, which hinders the contact between the surface of the active aluminum substrate and the surrounding atmosphere, so it has very good corrosion resistance, and the corrosion rate decreases with time. Aluminum alloys are far superior to steel in terms of corrosion resistance.
Other comparisons
There are many kinds of surface treatment for aluminum alloy profiles, such as anodizing, chemical polishing, fluorocarbon spraying, electrophoretic coating, etc. It has good ductility, can meet the needs of various cross-sections, has a beautiful appearance, and can adapt to various highly corrosive environments.
Steel is generally processed by hot-dip galvanizing, steel spraying, and paint coating, which is relatively limited, and the cross-sectional shape is relatively simple, such as C-shaped steel, I-beam and angle steel, etc. The appearance is not as good as aluminum alloy profiles.
To sum up, when choosing a solar bracket, the steel has high strength and small deflection deformation under load, which is more suitable for large-scale power stations or strong wind areas with relatively large stress. Aluminum alloy profiles are lighter in weight, more beautiful in appearance, and have better anti-corrosion properties. For roof power stations with load-bearing requirements or highly corrosive environments (chemical plants, etc.), the effect of using aluminum alloy brackets is better. Of course, after considering the above factors, high-quality manufacturers and excellent after-sales service are also important conditions for customers to refer to.