The plate material decides conductivity, corrosion resistance, cleanability and price. Three dominate air-to-air cores:
| Material | Strengths | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | High conductivity, light, low cost | Corrodes in acidic or coastal air |
| Polymer (enthalpic film) | Corrosion-proof, enables moisture transfer | Lower conductivity, needs thin walls |
| Stainless steel | Corrosion-proof, hygienic, washable | Higher cost, lower conductivity than aluminum |
How to choose
- Clean commercial HVAC: aluminum is the default.
- Coastal, acidic or humid industrial exhaust: stainless or coated.
- Enthalpy recovery: polymer or membrane plates move moisture.
- Food / pharma: stainless for wash-down and hygiene.
Material ties into cleaning and industrial recovery choices.
Specifying a unit for your project?
EN159 builds plate, rotary, heat-pipe and counterflow air-to-air exchangers in aluminum, polymer and stainless. Send airflow (m3/h), inlet temperatures and available space and we will size it.
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