Since aluminum as a metal is lightweight, strong and also recyclable, it is strongly recommended for making packaging material. The packaging material made out of aluminum is in the form of sheet, coil, plate or foil. Pure aluminum is mainly used for making aluminum sheet or other packaging material. Nowadays, non-heat treatable alloys of aluminum-manganese or aluminum-magnesium are also used for higher strength. With both pure aluminum and alloys, there are different mechanical properties available in sheets and coils through varying degrees of work hardening.

Making of aluminum sheet
To make sheet, first of all sheet ingots are formed out of aluminum which are of different weights. These aluminum sheet ingots are then flat rolled and rerolled till thickness, or gauge that is desired is achieved. The gauge determines what sheet has been produced and what is to be used for. Depending on the usage, the thickness varies. For example, the aluminum sheet used for making panels in automobile bodies or used in marine applications is thicker than the aluminum sheet used in making packaging material.

Types of aluminum sheet

• Flat aluminum sheet : This as the name suggests is the aluminum sheet which has a plain outlook and available in different thickness.
  
  
• Chequered aluminum sheet : This type of sheet does not have a plain or flat appearance. Rather, the aluminum sheet has chequered pattern all over and hence the name. This type of sheet is of varied types differing in their length, weight, grades and thickness.
  
  
• Corrugated aluminum sheet : Like chequered sheet, the corrugated aluminum sheet as the name suggests has corrugated appearance and widely recommended to be used for roofing & side cladding applications.

Properties tested for making aluminum sheet

• Density
• Melting Range
• Tensile Strength-Ultimate
• Tensile Strength-Yield
• Elongation
• Hardness
• Machinability

Features of aluminum sheets and coils

• Durable
• Lightweight
• Moderate to high strength
• Good welding characteristics
• High resistance to corrosion
• Resists stress cracking

Aluminum sheet as a packaging material
As a packaging material, aluminum sheet is used to make the following :

• Rigid Containers
• Beverage cans
• Closures for bottles and jars
• Collapsible tubes

One common product made out of aluminum sheet is rigid container. This is a kind of stiff package, usually round in shape. It is also known as "can". Rigid containers protect the product and bear reasonable handling without deformation or breakage. The "can industry" is considered to be the largest segment of the aluminum packaging complex. Most rigid containers or cans are cylindrical, which uses the container material efficiently. The shape also permits permits manufacturing, drilling, and closing at high speeds with exact control. Almost all beverage, beer, fruit, vegetable, dog food, and motor-oil containers are cylindrical and made of aluminum sheet.