Aluminum containers

Aluminum. The majority of aluminum containers are of monobloc (one-piece) constmction, impact extmded from a slug of lubricated aluminum alloy. These containers are widely used for many products and are available in a vast array of heights and diameters. Because these containers lend themselves to additional shaping, many unusual shapes can be found in the marketplace. They may also be coated after the extmsion process. 

Aluminum containers are recommended for many appHcations because of the very hard, corrosion-resistant oxide coating. They are deficient in only one respect once the protective skin has been penetrated, aluminum corrosion accelerates. 

Two-piece aluminum containers are also available. These consist of impact-extmded upper shells having a seamed-on aluminum bottom. The valve opening is machined from the soHd aluminum rather than roUed. AH coatings must be appHed to the can body after the forming operation. 

Aluminum-containing propellants deflver less than the calculated impulse because of two-phase flow losses in the nozzle caused by aluminum oxide particles. Combustion of the aluminum must occur in the residence time in the chamber to meet impulse expectations. As the residence time increases, the unbumed metal decreases, and the specific impulse increases. The soHd reaction products also show a velocity lag during nozzle expansion, and may fail to attain thermal equiUbrium with the gas exhaust. An overall efficiency loss of 5 to 8% from theoretical may result from these phenomena. However, these losses are more than offset by the increase in energy produced by metal oxidation (85—87). 

The CAS registry Hsts 5,037 aluminum-containing compounds exclusive of alloys and intermetaUics. Some of these are Hsted in Table 1. Except for nepheline and alunite in the USSR and Poland, bauxite is the raw material for all manufactured aluminum compounds. The term bauxite is used for ores that contain economically recoverable quantities of the aluminum hydroxide mineral gibbsite or the oxide—hydroxide forms boehmite and diaspore. 

The aluminum containing compound having the largest worldwide market, estimated to be over 30 x 10 t in 1990, is metal grade alumina. Second, is aluminum hydroxide. In 1990 the market for Al(OH)2 should approach or exceed 3.5 million metric tons which is equivalent to 2.3 million tons on an alumina basis. The spHt between additive and feedstock appHcations for Al(OH)2 (16) is roughly 50 50. Additive appHcations include those as flame retardants (qv) in products such as carpets, and to enhance the properties of paper (qv), plastic, polymer, and mbber products. Significant quantities are also used in pharmaceuticals (qv), cosmetics (qv), adhesives (qv), poHshes (qv), dentifrices (qv), and glass (qv). 

Aluminum Sulfate (Alum). Alum, a double sulfate of potassium and aluminum having twelve waters of crystallization, KA1(S0 2 12H20, is the earliest referenced aluminum containing compound. It was mentioned by Herodotus in the fifth century BC. The Egyptians used alum as a mordant and as a medicine the Romans used it for fireproofing. Some alums contain sodium or ammonium ions in place of potassium. 

Sodium aluminate is used in water purification, in the paper industry, for the after treatment of Ti02 pigment, and in the manufacture of aluminum containing catalysts and zeoHte. Worldwide markets are in the range of 125,000 t/yr (19). 

Aluminum chloride hydroxide [1327-41 -9] [10284-64-7], AlQ(OH)2 [14215-15-7], AlQ2(OH), products, commonly known as polyaluminum chlorides (PAG), are used for a wide variety of industrial appHcations. Other names for PAG are basic aluminum chloride, polybasic aluminum chloride, aluminum hydroxychloride, aluminum oxychloride, and aluminum chlorohydrate. The presence of polymeric, aluminum-containing cations, the distribution of which can differ gready, typifies PAG products. Although the formation of polynuclear aluminum species in solution has been studied for over a century, there is stiU much controversy concerning aluminum polymerization reactions and the resulting product compositions. 

Fruit and vegetable juices packed with 21-26 in. of vacuum and stored in uncoated aluminum cans caused severe corrosion as shown in Table III. The corrosion rate brought about by the juices depends more on the nature of the organic acid present and the buffering capacity of the juice than on the total titratable acidity (11). The use of coated aluminum containers considerably minimized corrosion problems. Product control under extended storage conditions may be achieved by using specific chemical additives. However, more work is needed in this area before final conclusions can be reached. 

Meat Products. Laboratory investigations as well as practical experience have shown that aluminum containers do not cause the objectionable darkening of meat that occurs with other metals. Wunsche (13) found that luncheon meat stored in lacquered aluminum cans retained its normal color after more than one year, while a slight surface discoloration was observed on the same product packed in lacquered tinplate cans. 

Corrosion has been encountered infrequently to date and has been a surface type, as opposed to pitting corrosion that can result in perforations. Entrapped air in the beverage or in the cans headspace increases the corrosive action of the product according to Koehler et at (21). As with beer and other canned foods, aluminum ends provide electrochemical protection when combined with tinplate or tin-free-steel can bodies. The level of iron pickup is reduced while the amount of aluminum dissolved in soft drinks increases without detrimental effect. Aluminum containers with vinyl epoxy and vinyl organosol coatings are compatible with carbonated soft drinks. 

Frozen Foods. Corrosion caused by the reaction of foods with aluminum containers is unusual if the products are handled and stored at 0°F or lower. However, the inevitable bad handling of frozen foods during commercial distribution causes undesirable thawing. In this condition, not only does the food deteriorate, but it can also attack the container. Such unwanted reactions can be effectively controlled by using coated aluminum containers. Since aluminum is highly compatible with frozen fruits and citrus juices, it has been used extensively as a liner for fiberboard composite cans, as complete aluminum cans, or as ends in combination with steel can bodies in the frozen food industry. 

As a result of extensive development and testing by thermoprocessing or aseptic techniques, the use of flexible, laminated aluminum pouches and formed aluminum containers for shelf-stable foods is nearing commercial reality. The increasing use of aluminum for food packaging has been made possible by successfully combining it with specialized plastics, papers, adhesives, and coatings. In many applications, aesthetic as well as protective characteristics are also provided. 

The industrial uses of Mg are too numerous to be described here, and are detailed in Refs i8, 19 25. The uses of Mg powd in pyrotechnics are discussed under Pyrotechnics. Also see Aluminum Containing Alloys in Vol 1,... 

Aluminum-containing antacids—constipation, intestinal impaction, anorexia, weakness, tremors, and bone pain... 

Never take these dru with aluminum-containing antacids. If antacids are required, take them 2 to 3 hours after ursodiol. 

Aluminum-containing compounds LUAIB4, YbAlB4 (YCrB4 type) as well as Yb2AlB5 (Y2ReBg type) are prepared from A1 flux methods A1 in these compounds behaves as a transition metal. ... 

Grinding conditions are modified by the nature of supports. Gold clusters with a diameter of 1.5 nm were obtained on an aluminum-containing porous coordination polymer by grinding in an agate mortar in air for 20 min, followed by the reduction in a stream of H2 in N2 at 120°C for 2 h ]50]. In contrast, ball milling is favorable... 

Aluminum-containing zeolites are inherently catalytically active in several ways. 

Calcium citrate should not be administered with aluminum-containing compounds. Concomitant administration may increase systemic bioavailability of aluminum and predispose to toxicity... 

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