The present Aluminum-clad break-bolt doors and windows With their outstanding advantages—such as high strength, excellent thermal and insulation properties, superior rigidity, great fire resistance, large daylighting area, remarkable atmospheric corrosion resistance, exceptional overall performance, long service life, and superb decorative effects—their popularity in the market is steadily growing. High-end aluminum alloy doors and windows featuring advanced thermal-break profiles have increasingly become the preferred choice for premium architectural applications.

　　“The ‘thermal break’ might be a term many consumers are familiar with—and one they hear frequently—but in reality, few truly understand it. This lack of awareness often leaves ordinary consumers feeling at a disadvantage when choosing thermal-break aluminum doors and windows, as they’re caught in a situation of information asymmetry. In this article, our editor has compiled some essential knowledge about ‘thermal breaks,’ ensuring you’ll no longer feel confused or uncertain when making your purchase!”

　　Aluminum doors and windows with thermal breaks generally consist of two main components: thermally broken aluminum profiles and insulated glass units.

　　 What is thermal break aluminum profile?

　　Thermal-break aluminum, also known as "broken bridge aluminum," thermal-insulated aluminum alloy, or simply "broken bridge aluminum," features aluminum on both sides, with a plastic profile cavity used as the insulating material in the middle. This innovative structural design cleverly combines the strengths of both plastic and aluminum alloys, seamlessly meeting diverse requirements such as aesthetic appeal, as well as the durability, strength, and long-term performance of doors and windows.

　　The principle behind thermal-break aluminum alloy windows and doors is to insert a thermal break strip into the middle of the aluminum profile, effectively "breaking" the aluminum structure and preventing heat transfer. When this process is used to create window and door frames, which are then fitted with features like insulated glass, hardware components, invisible insect screens, glass sealants, expanding foam, and sealing strips, the final product—known as thermal-break aluminum alloy doors and windows—is born.

　　 The advantages of thermal break aluminum

　　1. Thermally broken aluminum windows offer excellent thermal insulation. They feature a soft, flexible connection between the inner and outer frames made from insulated profiles, along with a triple-seal system that includes one adhesive strip and two sealing brushes—ensuring a tight, airtight, and watertight closure with outstanding thermal performance. The window sashes are designed with hollow glass structures, delivering superior soundproofing, heat insulation, and energy efficiency. This innovative design significantly reduces heating and cooling costs. Testing has shown that the windows achieve a low heat transfer coefficient (K-value) ranging from 2.23 to 2.94 W/m²K, resulting in remarkable energy savings. In fact, the energy savings generated over just a few years can easily offset the initial investment.

　　2. Thermal-insulated, thermally broken aluminum with waterproof functionality. Designed with a structural drainage system based on the principle of pressure balance, featuring a sloped, stepped design for smooth water runoff and strategically placed drainage outlets that ensure efficient water flow and excellent water tightness.

　　3. Thermal-break aluminum prevents condensation and frost formation. The thermal-break aluminum profiles enable a three-seal system in doors and windows, effectively separating the moisture chambers and achieving balanced air and water pressure. This significantly enhances the water- and air-tightness of the windows and doors, resulting in clean, bright, and visually appealing results.

　　4. Heat-insulated, thermal-break aluminum mosquito and insect screen design. These invisible screens can be installed either indoors or outdoors, effectively keeping out mosquitoes, flies, and other pests—making them especially ideal for regions in the north that experience heavy mosquito activity.

　　5. Thermal-break aluminum with anti-theft and anti-loosening features. Paired with a unique multi-point hardware lock system, these windows ensure stability and safety during use.

　　6. Thermally broken aluminum with noise-reducing and sound-insulating properties. Its meticulously designed structure features tight-sealing joints, and test results show an air-borne sound insulation level of 30–40 dB, effectively ensuring that residents living within 50 meters of highways remain free from noise disturbances. Even in areas adjacent to bustling city centers, this system guarantees a peaceful and cozy indoor environment.

　　7. Thermal insulation and fire-resistant features of the thermal break aluminum system. Aluminum alloy is a metallic material that does not burn.

　　8mm thermal-break aluminum. Resistant to wind, sand, and high wind pressure. The inner frame features a hollow design, providing exceptional strength against wind-pressure deformation and excellent vibration resistance. Ideal for both high-rise buildings and residential homes, these windows can be customized into large-scale designs, maximizing natural light intake. Additionally, this window type offers superior air-tightness compared to traditional aluminum or PVC windows, ensuring that even in areas with heavy wind and sand, indoor window sills and floors remain dust-free.

　　9. Thermally broken aluminum boasts high strength, maintains its shape without deformation, and requires no maintenance. The thermally broken aluminum door and window frames exhibit exceptional tensile and shear resistance, as well as outstanding ability to withstand thermal distortion—making them robust and long-lasting. Additionally, the thermally broken aluminum profiles are highly resistant to acid and alkali corrosion, preventing yellowing or fading, and virtually eliminating the need for regular upkeep.

　　10. Insulated thermal break aluminum comes in a variety of colors, offering exceptional decorative appeal. It allows for different color finishes on the interior and exterior surfaces of doors and windows, perfectly catering to customers' aesthetic preferences and spatial color-matching needs—while also aligning with architects' personalized design requirements. The aluminum profiles feature a sleek, streamlined design, lending a luxurious and sophisticated look.

　　11. Insulated thermal break aluminum—green building materials for a circular economy. Thermal break aluminum doors and windows are produced without generating harmful substances, and all materials can be fully recycled and reused, making them eco-friendly green building products that align with the principles of sustainable human development.

　　12. Insulated thermal break aluminum windows come in a variety of opening styles, offering both comfort and durability. Available options include casement, inward tilt, top-hung, sliding, as well as combined designs that feature both casement and inward tilt mechanisms. These windows are ideal for use in public buildings, residential complexes, and municipal projects. High-quality hardware components ensure long-lasting performance, while the ergonomic handle design enhances both aesthetics and user convenience. The windows open smoothly and effortlessly, with effortless, silent operation every time. Backed by a mature and fully refined window manufacturing process, these products are crafted using advanced, high-precision CNC machining centers, guaranteeing consistent quality and reliability.

　　 Material characteristics of thermal-break aluminum

　　The thermal-break aluminum doors and windows offer superior air tightness compared to any aluminum or plastic windows, ensuring dust-free window sills and floors even in areas with heavy wind and sand. Additionally, they effectively shield residents living within 50 meters of highways from noise pollution.

　　(1) Broken bridge aluminum alloy doors and windows represent the highest-grade aluminum alloy window products—they are the fifth-generation, highly advanced, energy-efficient, and thermally insulated windows, following wooden, iron, PVC/steel-alloy, and conventional colored aluminum alloy windows. Their surfaces can be coated in a wide variety of colors.

　　(2) The structural composition of broken-bridge colored aluminum alloy doors and windows combines the eco-friendly qualities of wooden windows, the robustness and security of iron and steel windows, and the excellent thermal insulation and energy-saving features of PVC windows. These windows are crafted by joining two distinct profiles using energy-efficient, thermally broken spacers—also known as nylon strips. The primary function of these spacers is to interrupt the direct path of heat transfer, effectively preventing rapid heat exchange while allowing for controlled, gradual thermal movement. As a result, this design is more complex than standard aluminum windows, leading to higher production costs. In contrast, conventional colored aluminum windows lack these thermal breaks, offering no insulation or energy-saving benefits—they simply feature surface-mounted decorative coatings.

　　(3) The profile section wall thickness of broken-bridge aluminum alloy doors and windows strictly adheres to national standards. Wall thickness requirements must be at least 1.4mm, as thinner walls directly impact assembly techniques and the structural integrity and safety of the finished windows and doors. In contrast, standard colored aluminum doors and windows have less stringent wall-thickness requirements, typically set based on market demands and the profitability considerations of window and door manufacturers—usually around 1.0mm.

　　(4) Technical requirements and features of assembling insulated (thermal break) colored aluminum doors and windows versus standard colored aluminum doors and windows: Insulated colored aluminum doors and windows are crafted by cutting the 1.4mm or thicker wall sections at a 45-degree angle, then joining the corners using specialized 3mm-plus inserts to form a complete assembly. This method ensures precise alignment through extrusion. In contrast, standard doors and windows are typically assembled using regular corner aluminum profiles about 1mm thick, connected with pop rivets—resulting in lower structural strength and safety, though at a significantly lower cost. Notably, once fully assembled, even an adult can safely stand and walk atop the insulated aluminum frame without any issues. Moreover, the technical standards for assembling pre-fabricated, factory-made units are vastly superior to those achieved through manual on-site construction. Finally, the specialized insulated aluminum profiles used in this process simply cannot be compared to standard aluminum profiles in terms of performance and quality.

　　 How to determine the quality of thermal break aluminum profiles

　　a. Profile wall thickness: When producing home decoration products, most window and door manufacturers opt for materials with high yield rates—typically opting for thinner profiles to cut down costs. A thickness of 1.3 mm, for instance, falls below the national standard. According to the national standard, profile thickness must be at least 1.4 mm or greater.

　　b. Thermal Break Strips: The thermal break strip is the most critical component that creates the "thermal break" in broken bridge aluminum profiles. It must be made from PA66 nylon, as mandated by national standards. However, many manufacturers in the current decoration market are now using cheaper PVC plastic thermal strips, which can significantly compromise the product's lifespan and safety.

　　c. Whenever possible, opt for factory-original products rather than those that have undergone secondary spraying and self-inserted spacers. Products offering customers the flexibility to choose their own profile colors are typically made this way—using secondary spraying and self-inserted spacers—and unfortunately, their quality cannot match that of genuine, factory-produced items. Aluminum-clad break-bolt doors and windows Product comparison.