Choosing Container Foil: 8011 vs 3003 vs 3004
Three alloys, three behaviours. Which one suits your press depends on the container shape, the wall thickness you are drawing to, and whether the tray goes in an oven.
Semi-rigid container foil is usually ordered in one of three alloys. They are not interchangeable, and the wrong choice shows up as torn walls, earing, or lids that will not seal.
8011 — the general purpose choice
8011 is the most common container alloy. It forms well, gives a clean surface, and costs less than 3003 or 3004. It suits smoothwall trays, plates and moderate-depth bowls for chilled and ambient use.
3003 — more strength
3003 adds manganese, which raises strength and improves behaviour when the container has to hold a heavier load or a deeper draw. It is the usual choice for larger trays and for containers that will be handled roughly in catering.
3004 — for oven and high-heat use
3004 adds magnesium as well as manganese, giving the highest strength of the three. It is used where the container must keep its shape at high temperature or under mechanical stress, and for press-formed containers with demanding geometry.
Comparison
| 8011 | 3003 | 3004 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | moderate | higher | highest |
| Formability | very good | good | good |
| Relative cost | lowest | medium | highest |
| Typical use | trays, plates, smoothwall | large trays, catering | oven use, demanding shapes |
Thickness and temper
Container stock generally runs 0.03 to 0.09 mm. Thin gauges suit small containers; heavier gauges are needed for large trays. Temper is usually O for maximum formability, or H24 where more stiffness is wanted after forming.
A note on earing
Earing — the wavy edge left after drawing — is caused by grain orientation in the coil. It is controlled by the rolling and annealing route, not by the alloy alone. If your press is trimming a lot of scrap from the rim, ask your supplier about the earing profile of the coil, not just the specification.
We supply container stock in 8011, 3003 and 3004 from 0.03 to 0.09 mm; see the aluminium foil container page or the wider packaging and container foil range.