More and more is being said about sandwich panels. This is because it is a material that is easy to install, offers a range of favorable technical properties and is available in many aesthetic variations. All this makes it a material suitable for diverse and sustainable construction.
Table of Contents:
- Sandwich panels – what are they?
- What is the process of manufacturing sandwich panels?
- The most important properties and characteristics of the material
- Application, that is, where can insulated panels be used?
Definition of sandwich panels
A sandwich panel is a building material that, as the name implies, consists of two layers: sheet metal on the two, outer sides and an insulating core in the center. You can also find it under the name “panel boards”.
Depending on whether we are dealing with wall or roof sandwich panels, the product is used to enclose walls or roofs and thus create a building block. As it is an extremely aesthetic material, it is also responsible for giving the building an attractive, neat and modern appearance. In turn, its insulating properties allow investors to create buildings with the desired thermal and acoustic comfort.
What does production look like?
Whether a wall or roof panel is being created, production looks very similar and consists of the same key steps.
- Creating sheet metal
- – properly shaped, durable and with planned aesthetics. It is she who gives the entire board a certain structure and solidity.
- The formation of an insulating core –
- the peculiar heart of any double-layer board. This layer is formed from a variety of materials, but mineral wool, polyurethane foam and polystyrene foam lead the way, as materials with the most favorable thermal insulation parameters.
- Combining the outer layer with the inner layer –
- that is, sheet metal with an insulating core. This uses the phenomenon of adhesion, which is the ability of materials to bond with each other.
- Quality control and so-called seasoning
- – a very important stage, during which sandwich panels are checked for compliance with technical documentation and “rest”, acquiring the right temperature.
* It is worth knowing that state-of-the-art insulated panels use different and improved cores. This is the case, for example, at Kingspan, a leader in the production and sale of this material. In addition to standard PIR cores, the manufacturer’s IPN uses the innovative QuadCore™.
Key advantages of the material
Insulated panels are a material with many advantages. It is characterized by light weight, yet high mechanical and fire resistance . It is distinguished by its low thermal conductivity coefficient (this indicates its excellent thermal insulation properties) and is available in a variety of aesthetics and many sizes. In addition, it offers good sound insulation – this is appreciated, for example, by investors planning to create a building in close proximity to streets. In contrast, in the context of sustainable construction, close to Kingspan’s policy, sandwich panels are made with great care for the environment.
Double-layer boards – where are they used?
Having learned the main advantages of the material, it is not surprising that it is used in the construction industry in the broadest sense of the term and co-creates, among others: production halls and warehouses, office and commercial buildings, public buildings, cold stores and freezers, logistics centers, various types of workshops, as well as buildings on farms.