The all-aluminum easy open can, also known as the two-piece can, is composed of a can body and a can lid, which are made of different aluminum alloys and manufactured on different production lines. In fact, the can lid is also composed of two components, the lid body and the pull-tab end, which are produced on highly automated lines using different alloys and thicknesses of aluminum strip.
The can body is made of a 0.25-0.29mm thick Al-Mn series 3004, AA3004, AA3104, or AA3204 alloy strip in an H19 temper. The can lid (cover, pull-tab, etc.) is made of an aluminum alloy strip, with most cover materials using 5182-H19 strip, but also sometimes using 5052-H19 or H48 strip. Cans with internal pressure, such as beer and carbonated beverage cans, use 5082 (or 5182) alloy strip in an H38 temper, while juice cans without internal pressure use 5052 alloy strip in an H38 temper. The lid body (base) is made of a 0.27mm thick 5082 or 5182 alloy strip, and the pull-tab material is mostly 5052-H19, although Novelis Aluminum Sheet and Plate Company only supplies 5182-H19 and H48 coil. The material widths are 45mm, 46mm, and 68mm. The pull-tab and seal materials are mostly 5052 alloy, occasionally using 5182 alloy, and the seal-pull-tab combination can be referred to as the pull-tab.
