RUSAL supplies specialized aluminum tape for noise barriers

RUSAL has delivered custom-made aluminum tape to KraftSpan, a major producer of noise barriers for highways and railways. Aluminum is now being integrated into these barriers, which is expected to at least double their service life. The anti-corrosion properties of the "winged metal" will also reduce maintenance costs.

SAYANAL, Russia and the CIS’s leading foil-rolling plant, produced and supplied the specialized aluminum tape to KraftSpan for use in noise barriers.

"For this new product, we used tape made from alloy 3003 (aluminum-manganese). The metal is hard enough to withstand road dust and gravel impacts, yet soft enough to maintain the curved shape required for the barriers and remain easy for the end manufacturer to process," explained Alexey Agafonov, Director of the (Folga) "Foil" division at RUSAL.

The primary advantage of aluminum for noise barriers is its corrosion resistance, which extends service life and preserves aesthetic appeal.

"Under harsh conditions—such as exposure to de-icing reagents, abrasive wear, temperature fluctuations, and precipitation—steel-based barriers can resist corrosion for a maximum of 10 years. This is why customers are increasingly moving away from steel toward more corrosion-resistant materials. While the production technologies for steel and aluminum barriers are very similar, the latter, according to our estimates, will last over 20 years without requiring special maintenance or additional anti-corrosion protection. We are pleased with the quality of the alloy 3003 barriers and are now introducing this product to the market," said Dmitry Bazarov, Director of Development at KraftSpan.