Profile for assembling a window or door frame or for assembling a facade construction

Abstract

Profile for assembling a window or door frame or for assembling a facade construction, wherein the profile is formed from a material which at least comprises a light metal or a light metal alloy, in particular aluminum or an aluminum alloy, characterized in that the profile has at least one forensic feature which is designed or suitable to ensure traceability within a production process of the profile and in particular of the window or door frame assembled with the profile or of the facade construction assembled with the profile.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a novel profile for forming a frame construction, preferably a door, window or roof arrangement, wherein the profile was developed in particular from the point of view of sustainability.

[0002] The construction sector is one of the most resource-intensive economic sectors in the world. The construction of buildings and infrastructure requires large quantities of mineral raw materials, such as stone, bricks, cement, and asphalt. Aluminum, in particular, is also indispensable for facade construction. Most of the materials used in the construction sector are naturally mined and do not grow back.

[0003] Recycling is therefore an important step toward sustainably reducing resource extraction and the associated environmental impacts. Especially in resource-poor Germany, construction waste holds enormous potential for high-quality raw materials. There is a need to recover these raw materials cost-effectively, especially in a pure form, so that they can be refined again to a quality comparable to the original material.

[0004] Aluminum is a widely used raw material in window and facade construction. Due to its excellent technical properties, such as durability, low weight, and wear resistance, aluminum is becoming increasingly popular. However, aluminum production is very energy-intensive. By recycling primary aluminum, the high energy consumption associated with the manufacture of products using this primary raw material can be reduced by approximately 95%, as can CO2 emissions.

[0005] Although approximately 96% of the aluminum scrap generated in the construction industry is returned to the recycling cycle, primary aluminum is often used for construction products.

[0006] This is partly because there are many different aluminum alloys that are needed depending on the application and requirements.

[0007] Even if the aluminum scrap is sorted, i.e. without plastic material, for example, there is no guarantee that the aluminum scrap consists of a single aluminum alloy.

[0008] Therefore, it is not possible, or not easily possible, to use aluminum scrap or post-consumer scrap as recycled aluminum in construction.

[0009] In particular, post-consumer aluminum scrap consists of different aluminum alloys, so that it is only suitable to a limited extent for the production of recycled aluminum products if the aluminum products are to contain a specific aluminum alloy.

[0010] Accordingly, there is a need for the production, testing, and tracking of aluminum profiles and articles made from them. In particular, a solution is sought that allows batch traceability to be easily implemented, even when post-consumer aluminum scrap consists of aluminum products made from different alloys.

[0011] In particular, there is a need for improved component identification for aluminum profiles, whereby a clear identification of all components from the starting material to the final product is possible even if the aluminum profile is present as post-consumer scrap and may even be shredded and mixed with shredded material from aluminum products made of other aluminum alloys.

[0012] This problem is solved in particular by the subject matter of independent patent claim 1.

[0013] This relates to a profile for forming a frame construction or facade construction, preferably a door, window or roof arrangement, wherein the profile is formed from a material which at least comprises a lightweight material or a light metal alloy, in particular aluminium or an aluminium alloy.

[0014] In order to ensure perfect traceability of the profile or parts of the profile, the invention provides that the profile has at least one forensic feature which is designed or suitable to ensure traceability within a production process of the profile and in particular of the window or door frame assembled with the profile or the facade construction assembled with the profile.

[0015] For component identification, open or hidden traceability features, i.e. traceability features of type I or type II, are known, particularly in the construction industry.

[0016] Type I overt traceability features are features integrated into an article that are easily identifiable and visible to the naked eye. Examples include watermarks or product identification labels.

[0017] Type II (covert) traceability features are features that are integrated into the article and require a specific tool for on-site identification. The required tools are generally readily available and transportable. These include, in particular, barcodes or RFID tags.

[0018] However, these known traceability features are not suitable for tracing, starting from post-consumer aluminium scrap, which is present, for example, in the form of shredded material, which article or articles ultimately originate from the post-consumer aluminium scrap to be recycled.

[0019] Therefore, the invention proposes that the profile has a forensic traceability feature.

[0020] The at least one forensic feature of the profile is designed or suitable to ensure traceability within a production process of the profile and in particular of the window or door frame assembled with the profile or the facade construction assembled with the profile.

[0021] In particular, the at least one forensic feature is designed or suitable to draw conclusions about individual data of the profile, which in particular relate to the manufacturing process of the profile and / or the material or a composition of the material of the profile.

[0022] By using at least one forensic feature that allows for traceability within the production process of the profile, and in particular for individual data of the profile to be traced, efficient recovery and quality improvement of aluminum shot is possible.

[0023] The invention makes it possible to recycle a profile, particularly one made of light metal such as aluminum, 100% with minimal energy consumption and without any loss of quality. This is permanently sustainable, as complex initial production processes can be replaced by energy-saving and resource-conserving remelting. The secondary material, especially secondary aluminum, from recycled material, also known as green material or green aluminum, saves up to 90% of energy in production compared to primary material.

[0024] The invention ensures that recycled, i.e., recovered material, especially aluminum, can be used for the production of new products, while achieving consistently high levels of purity in the secondary raw material. This is possible because the use of a forensic feature enables proper sorting of the aluminum scrap.

[0025] In particular, in implementations of the invention, it is provided that the profile or the material from which the profile is formed is provided with at least one forensic feature. The at least one forensic feature provides an individual identification of the profile and the starting material of the profile up to the final product. The forensic features are, in particular, a consistent identification.

[0026] The at least one forensic feature is, in particular, a chemical or metallurgical feature relating to the material from which the profile is formed.

[0027] Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the at least one forensic feature is a feature relating to the composition of the material from which the profile is formed.

[0028] This has the advantage of enabling consistent marking throughout metal processing. Many processing steps in metal processing take place between 700°C and 1200°C; surface treatments (e.g., annealing, nitriding) and cleaning processes are often subject to aggressive chemical conditions. This leads to destruction and thus illegibility of the marking with conventional marking methods.

[0029] By using at least one forensic characteristic as a marker, which is particularly a chemical or metallurgical characteristic related to the material from which the profile is formed, an individual "fingerprint" of the profile or the material from which the profile is formed can be determined for each profile. This individual fingerprint is still identifiable even if the profile is present as aluminum scrap, especially if the profile has been shredded.

[0030] Alternatively or in addition to the aforementioned embodiments, it is also conceivable that the at least one forensic feature is a chemical feature relating to the material from which a surface of the profile is formed. It is also conceivable that the at least one forensic feature is a feature relating to the composition of the material from which a surface of the profile is formed.

[0031] According to implementations of the invention, it is provided that the at least one forensic feature is a taggant, in particular a microtaggant, which is added in particular to the material from which the profile is formed.

[0032] The term "taggant" used here refers to a chemical or physical marker added to the material from which the profile or the surface of the profile is formed to enable various forms of testing or detection. An example of this would be a specific (small) metal component, such as rubidium or a rubidium salt, added to the material. However, chemical additives are also conceivable as forensic markers.

[0033] Preferably, the at least one forensic feature is distributed particularly evenly over the entire length of the profile.

[0034] The invention further relates to a window frame, door frame or facade construction, wherein the window or door frame or the facade construction is formed at least partially or in regions from a section of a profile of the aforementioned type according to the invention.

[0035] In any case, the invention relates to a corresponding method for producing a profile. The method comprises the following steps: (a) providing a profile blank made of a light metal or a light metal alloy, in particular aluminum or an aluminum alloy; (b) determining at least one forensic feature relating to a material of the profile blank and / or a material composition of the profile blank; and (c) Assigning the at least one forensic feature to individual data of the profile, which in particular relate to the manufacturing process of the profile blank and / or the material or a composition of the material of the profile blank.

[0036] In particular, the method may further comprise the following method step before method step (b): - Applying or incorporating at least one forensic feature onto the profile blank or into the material of the profile blank.

[0037] The at least one forensic feature relates in particular to a chemical and / or metallurgical property of a surface of the profile.

[0038] Alternatively or additionally, the at least one forensic feature relates to an inherent material property of the profile blank.

Claims

[1] Profile for assembling a window or door frame or for assembling a facade construction, wherein the profile is formed from a material which at least comprises a light metal or a light metal alloy, in particular aluminium or an aluminium alloy, characterized by that the profile has at least one forensic feature which is designed or suitable to ensure traceability within a production process of the profile and in particular of the window or door frame assembled with the profile or the facade construction assembled with the profile. [2] Profile according to claim 1, wherein the at least one forensic feature is designed or suitable to draw conclusions about individual data of the profile, which in particular relate to the manufacturing process of the profile and / or the material or a composition of the material of the profile. [3] Profile according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the profile or the material from which the profile is formed is provided with the at least one forensic feature. [4] Profile according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one forensic feature is a chemical or metallurgical feature relating to the material from which the profile is formed; and / or wherein the at least one forensic feature is a feature relating to a composition of the material from which the profile is formed. [5] Profile according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one forensic feature is a chemical feature relating to the material from which a surface of the profile is formed; and / or wherein the at least one forensic feature is a feature relating to a composition of the material from which a surface of the profile is formed. [6] Profile according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one forensic feature is a taggant, in particular a microtaggant, which is in particular added to the material from which the profile is formed. [7] Profile according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one forensic feature is a chemical additive which is added in particular to the material from which the profile is formed. [8] Profile according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one forensic feature is distributed in particular uniformly over the entire length of the profile. [9] Window frame, door frame or facade construction, wherein the window or door frame or the facade construction is composed at least partially or in regions of at least one section of a profile according to one of claims 1 to 8.