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The term "thermally broken", in respect to aluminum products, refers to a product which has the interior and exterior aluminum surfaces separated by a non- conducting substance, such as polyurethane.

In a traditional, non-thermally broken aluminum frame, the aluminum frame is one-piece. Therefore the interior and exterior surfaces are in thermal contact with each other through the aluminum. By separating the exterior and interior surfaces, the thermal contact is broken.

The traditional method of thermal breaking aluminum framing is the “pour and debridge” method. This consists of the aluminum frame having a full length extruded pocket which can be poured full with liquid high density polyurethane resin. After the resin hardens, a sawcut is made through the aluminum, lengthwise along the slot filled with resin. The extremely strong resin holds together the interior and exterior portions of the aluminum frame. The aluminum thermal “bridge” has be removed.

What sets Aluminex apart is our patented thermal breaking method. Instead of pouring and debridging a solid one-piece extrusion, Aluminex uses two separate extrusions which are joined together by our patented assembly process. As the interior and exterior are two separate extrusions, the exterior and interior finishes can easily be different from one another.