Originally known as tin foil, due to the primary metal used to make them, are thin sheets of metal/foils used in a variety of applications. Nowadays, we make them from aluminium and use them for packaging purposes in industries or at our homes. So, let’s talk about the significance & applications of aluminium foil.
What are Aluminium Foils?
As stated above, these are thin foils made from an alloy of aluminium, silicon, iron, and zinc. The process of making these foils starts with the melting of 98.5% pure aluminium together with silicon, iron & zinc making the remaining 1.5%. This mixture is then converted into ingots, heat treated, and rolled into thin sheets of metal, better known as foil, anywhere from 0.2 mm to 6.5 mm.
We can further process and mould these according to applications & requirements, like packaging boxes, rolls, etc.
Various Applications of Aluminium Foil
As stated above, these thin sheets of metal, although seemingly very simplistic, serve a variety of functions. That is one of the reasons why they are so much in demand and accessible almost everywhere.
So, let’s check out all the popular applications of these foils.
(A). Home/Personal Use
This is perhaps the most common use for aluminum foils. Most of us have at a time in our lives, used a foil roll for packing food items like rotis and utensils, in our lunch boxes. The biggest advantage of aluminium foil over paper rolls & saran wraps is their ability to retain heat and keep the food from going cold.
(B). Food Packaging
Many food manufacturing industries use aluminium foil for the purpose of creating airtight packaging for their food. We can also create custom disposable food-holding trays from aluminium foil. These are spill-proof and help keep the food warm and protected from the elements.
These can include anything from frozen readymade food, chocolates, dairy products like yogurt, etc.
(C). Pharmaceutical Packaging
The pharma industry in India is currently worth nearly $50 billion. That’s a massive operation, just imagine the sheer volume of products that these businesses manufacture and package each day. The biggest issue with medicine packaging is that it needs to be easily accessible/openable & yet provide good enough protection & airtight seal against moisture and other contaminants. All the while, not adding significant weight & cost to the final product.
That is why, one of the primary components used in pharmaceutical packaging, is aluminium foils. As they fulfill all of the required roles. Aluminum is the second least dense metal, making it extremely light. Being a metal, it provides an airtight seal and enough rigidity to not be damaged during transportation.
(D). Electrical Devices & Safety
A very less known application of aluminium foil is its use in electrical applications. Aluminium provides some of the most sought out qualities in electrical industrial applications. These are – Good electrical conductivity, high-temperature resistance, resistance to corrosion/non-reactive, and durability. These characteristics allow aluminium foils to be used in applications like-
• Cable insulation, as they provide excellent insulation against electromagnetic interference.
• High resistance to heat and low density makes aluminium the perfect material for heat sinks.
• Conducting tapes, these items provide a bonding substrate for different components, and due to aluminium's excellent electrical conductivity, allows the current to flow freely between the different parts.
There are many other electrical applications of this product.
(E). Packing Liquids &Creams
Before the invention of aluminum packaging, or more popularly known as Dow Packs, packing & transporting liquids used to be a very costly operation. This was because glass bottles/containers consist of the majority of the weight of the total product, almost 75% to 80%. Meaning that the actual liquid inside only consists of 20% to 25% of the total weight of the final packed product. This increases the cost significantly by decreasing the total number of products that can be transported per shipment.
Why is Aluminium Foil So Popular?
As you can see from the above, there are countless variety of businesses that uses aluminum foil in their operations, throughout the supply chain.
(A). Temperature Retention
Even though they are an excellent conductor of electricity due to having three valent electrons. However, due to their extremely low density, these foils become a good insulator of heat. This property allows them to retain the heat of any item packed inside of them. This comes in use particularly, while packing hot food.
(B). Secure Seal
Being a solid metal, aluminum does not allow air or liquid to pass through it. And being extremely malleable and mouldable, allows users to create airtight seals from these foils. Like used in packaging for food manufacturers, medicines, etc.
(C). Weight Reduction
Do you know that aluminum is the 5th least dense metal on the periodic table? Meaning that it is extremely light in weight. That is one of the reasons that aircraft frames are made from aluminium, as it provides an extreme weight-to-rigidity ratio. This also helps in shipping products throughout the supply chain, with the increase in volume, businesses can see a significant increase in transportation costs.
(D). Non-Reactive
Unlike most metals that are resistant to corrosion, aluminum is highly non-reactive. Meaning that in the case of packaging items like food and liquids, the foil does not react with the substance. This helps in preserving the flavor and quality of the final product.
(E). Environmentally Friendly
These foils are mostly made using pure aluminum, making them non-hazardous. They also do not contaminate and pollute the environment. In addition, it is very easy and cheap to recycle aluminum foil. According to studies, recycling aluminum foil only requires about 6% of the total energy requirement of manufacturing new foils.
(F). Malleable and Flexible
Lastly, perhaps the greatest benefit and popular characteristic of aluminum, i.e., flexibility. Aluminum is extremely malleable and foldable without the risk of breaking off. Although most metals are malleable, however, aluminum is one another playing field. You can crumple their foils into a small ball, and it still wouldn’t break. This makes them perfect for packing items of all shapes and sizes.
Conclusion
By now you probably understand why aluminum is the choice for making foils and packaging, and why these items are so popular. Their unique material properties like heat retention, conductivity, temperature resistance, durability, etc., provide them with a wide variety of use.
Couple that with the fact that these foils can significantly reduce the total weight & as a result the total weight of the final product/operation. Makes them extremely useful.
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