An aluminum can, or can, is a container for packaging made primarily of aluminum (BrE Aluminium).
They are commonly used for foods and beverages but also for products such as oil, chemicals, and other liquids. The common 12-ounce size can weighs 15 grams when empty.

Usage

Use of aluminum in cans began in 1957. Aluminum is less costly than tin-plated steel but offers the same resistance to corrosion in addition to greater malleability, resulting in ease of manufacture; this gave rise to the two-piece can, where all but the top of the can is simply stamped out of a single piece of aluminium, rather than laboriously constructed from two pieces of steel.
A label

Label

A label is a piece of paper, polymer, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or article, on which is printed a legend, information concerning the product, addresses, etc. A label may also be printed directly on the container or article....

 is either printed directly on the side of the can or will be glued to the outside of the curved surface, indicating its contents.

Most aluminum cans are made of two pieces. The bottom and body are "drawn" or "drawn and ironed" from a flat plate or shallow cup. After filling, the can "end" is sealed onto the top of the can.

The advantages of aluminum over steel (tinplate) cans include;

• light weight
• competitive cost
• usage of easy-open aluminum ends: no need for a can opener
  Can opener
  A can opener is a device used to open metal cans. Although preservation of food using tin cans had been practiced since at least 1772 in the Netherlands, the first can openers were patented only in 1855 in England and in 1858 in the United States. Those openers were basically variations of a...
  
  
• clean appearance
• aluminum does not rust

Recycling

Aluminum cans are often made with recycled aluminum; approximately 68% of a standard North American can is recycled aluminum. Cans are the most recycled beverage container, at a rate of 69% worldwide.

See also

• The Aluminum Association
  The Aluminum Association
  The Aluminum Association is a trade association for the aluminum production, fabrication and recycling industries, and their suppliers. The Association is a 501 non-profit organization based in Arlington, Virginia, United States. The Aluminum Association is a trade association for the aluminum...
  
  
• Oil can
  Oil can
  An oil can is a can that holds oil for lubricating machines. An oil can can also be used to fill oil-based lanterns...
  
  
• Tin can
  Tin can
  A tin can, tin , steel can, or a can, is a sealed container for the distribution or storage of goods, composed of thin metal. Many cans require opening by cutting the "end" open; others have removable covers. Cans hold diverse contents: foods, beverages, oil, chemicals, etc."Tin" cans are made...
  
  
• Beverage can
  Beverage can
  A beverage can is a tin can designed to hold a specific portion of a beverage. Beverage cans are made of tin-plated steel or aluminium.- History :...
  
  
• Aluminum recycling

Books, general references

• Soroka, W, "Fundamentals of Packaging Technology", IoPP, 2002, ISBN 1-930268-25-4
• Yam, K. L., "Encyclopedidfsdfa of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, ISBN 978-0-470-08704-6