If I need to use aluminum sheeting as form for pouring concrete or another cement product, such as mortar/stucco, is there something (chemical) I can coat the sheet metal with so the cement doesn't stick to it?
Concrete – use as a concrete release agent for aluminum forms
chemicalsconcretemetal
Related Solutions
I would use a setting joint compound (maybe durabond) rather than mud because it's more durable and moisture resistant. It's more time-consuming to sand, however. Either should stick to concrete and both should get a coat of primer before painting. If have old or really glossy concrete, you can prep the surface with a little Muriatic acid to etch the surface and get a better bond, but that shouldn't be necessary for fresh-cured mortar.
It's a process, not a "special" material. A good steel trowel job can give a glass-like finish on standard concrete. It's partly technique, and partly timing (or timing is part of the technique.) Troweling knocks down larger particles and brings up smaller ones, resulting in a smooth finish. In many places it's too smooth, IMHO - easy to sweep, but also easy to fall on, especially if damp/wet.
On large jobs a 4 (or more) bladed power trowel is used.
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Best Answer
I know this is late, but I'm pretty sure you could get away with PAM or grease for releasing aluminum from concrete. Commercial release products are an assortment of commonly used items like mineral oil, or silicon lube, or graphite; less common are metal stearates (like zinc stearate in a can). I have played around with zinc stearate. I still have some that I should proably throw away, since I don't really have a serious need for it.