On 07-08.10, as part of the Haus der Materialisierung project, Material Mafia, together with Circular Berlin and TU Berlin, organised the second seminar and the workshop on the topic: Aluminium Dibond. 

An aluminium Dibond is a sandwich panel. It is known as a brand for a rigid composite material that belongs to the manufacturer 3A Composites, Singen. In our discussion, we picked it up as one example of similar aluminium composite panels (ACP) to understand the specifics of secondary use. 

A sandwich panel is any structure made of three layers: a low-density core, and a thin skin layer bonded to each side. Sandwich panels are used in applications where a combination of high structural rigidity and low weight is required.

In terms of its use, we can find ACP as lightweight material in construction, particularly for transient structures like trade show booths and similar temporary elements. It has recently also been adopted as a backing material for mounting fine art photography, often with an acrylic finish using processes.

More about Material’s specification you can find here:

Material Mafia, the Berlin-based organisation, collects this material from the rest of the materials. Together we were looking at the approaches to maximise the use of these rests, as material, even though, there is a technology to recycle them, is not commonly recycled. 

Learnings from experts.

Together with the practical experts, discussed the current working practices and the challenges and opportunities for material. The material reaches Material Mafia, after it was used by such organisations as Kubix-Berlin und MO-Systeme. 

Search for new potentials.

The material is easy to reuse with diverse tools: sawing, shaping, drilling, and pressing. Together with our participants, we were looking for diverse applications use towards tiny houses construction, and use it for the camper inside frames.

With this work, we want to bring the attention of the industries working with the aluminium composite plates material: depending if you are producing the material, use it in your daily operation, or aim to test it for your applications, please get in contact with the Material Mafia.

The circular economy helps to maximise the synergies, and this is the promising material with a lot of unexplored potentials.