The soda pop cans are typically made from a AA 3004 or 3104, which is aluminum containing manganese and some magnesium. The 3XXX alloys are not heat treatable, and have excellent formability and corrosion resistance.
The strip used to form the can probably be purchased from either Kaiser or Alcoa aluminium.
3004 is the alloy commonly used for beverage cans, but 5182 alloy is used for the ends. 3004 has nominal 1.2% manganese and 1% magnesium, with the balance being aluminum.5182 has nominal 5% magnesium, .7% manganese and .1% chrome.These alloys are work hardenable, not heat treatable. I would try a metal service center as a source.
The can body is made from Aluminum Association (AA) alloys 3004, 3104, or 3204. The ends are made with AA 5082 or 5182, and 5 years ago there was work by one manufacturer to use AA 3004 for ends.
The suppliers for US can manufacturers include Alcoa, Alcan, and ARCO Aluminum. Alcoa and Alcan (with its Pechiney purchase) control about 70% of the global can sheet market.
If your volumes are not large enough to interest the big mills, then try a service center such as Reliance:
Question brought up by this topic. How resistant is this grade of aluminum to the phosphoric acid in the coke product. Will it ever corrode the can metal?
Cans require an inside spray coating (typically an epoxy/acrylic blend) to withstand the low pH of carbonated soft drinks (citric and phosphoric acids are added, but carbonic acid is produced by carbonation and is the major species). Most cans are warranted to withstand the contents for only one year. Corrosion is most common for the scored end since the coating is preapplied prior to forming and the scoring process fractures the coating rendering it less protective. Corrosion also occurs more commonly to the outside (e.g. if any liquid spills from a can at the top of a pallet onto the cans below) because the outside coating is thinner and less protective.
Regards,
Cory
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