From UV reflective surfaces to solar absorber coatings, aluminium is found in a wide variety of applications. As a major aluminium stockholder in the UK, we are accustomed to getting requests for aluminium that is used in both traditional and non-traditional places.

Here are a few applications where this reflective metal has been blazing a more unusual trail over recent years:

Strawberry Success
UV-C light has been used in HVAC sterilisation systems for years now, but its appeal is expanding as farmers look to use it instead of pesticides. These solutions make the most of aluminium’s potential as a highly reflective UV-C surface:

• SAGA Robotics, a Norwegian-based company is working with Cornell AgriTech to develop autonomous UV light treatment robotic units, specifically for use in controlling mildew in vineyards.
• An International partnership project is underway to develop UV-C light treatment and automated robotics to manage crop-specific diseases for strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and even basil.

When it comes to UV light reflection, Alanod’s surface preparation approach finetunes the performance of the surface layer of aluminium. The result is MIRO^® UV C, that is designed to deliver a peak of well over 90% at the 250nm wavelength (compared to the 80% of conventional anodised aluminium).

Sunshine Stories
Whether it is for solar reflection or solar absorption, aluminium is the ideal material and the boundaries are being pushed with unusual applications:

• The catamaran Race for Water is the largest solar powered yacht in the world and features 512m² of on deck solar panels.
• Going back to agriculture for a minute, the solar-powered, GPS controlled Farmdroid from Denmark is being used to automatically sow seeds and hoe weeds with great results.
• Sunpipes that include highly reflective Alanod treated aluminium are delivering natural light in the iconic Battersea power station residential refurbishment project.

When it comes to solar reflection Alanod’s Reflective 85 and MIRO-SUN^® (used for CPC reflectors) and MIRO-SUN^®PV (used as a concentrating reflector material for photovoltaic applications) offer total solar reflectance of either 85 % or 90 %.

Signage Sensations?

• The lightweight durability of aluminium makes it a firm favourite with signage makers worldwide: One of the longest street names on such signage can be found in Wales. For those unfamiliar with this 58-letter town, it is: Llanfairpwll-gwyngyllgogerychwyrndrob-wllllantysiliogogogoch (known as Llanfair PG for short)!
• And what about these for some other unusual road signs?