About Tinplate
Tinplate is a low carbon thin sheet or strip of soft cold-rolled steel, less than 0.50 mm thick, coated electrolytically on both sides with block tin.
Tinning is carried out by a continuous electrolytic process after degreasing and pickling operations which eliminate, respectively, the greasy residue of rolling, and the oxide film covering the steel strip.
To satisfy the various requirements for packaging, it is possible to obtain differential coatings per side.
After tin-plating, two new operations are carried out: remelting and passivisation before the final oiling.
TINPLATE PRODUCTION PROCESS
Tinplate can be easily lacquer-coated or painted, in sheets or in coils. Organosols' and acrylics' adhesion is particularly good, but many other types of lacquer are also suitable (epoxyphenolics, polyesters, vinylics etc)
Chromium coated steel
Chromium coated steel is a sheet or strip of steel coated with a layer of chrome less than a micron thick.In many applications is a welcome alternative to tinplate, e.g., for deep drawn cans, food crown caps and vacuum closures for glass preserve jars.
With regard to its properties and use, ECCS is notably different when compared to tin-plated steel:
- ECCS is never used without organic protection (lacquer or polymer coating) in food products. The lacquer provides lubrication in the production phase and protection against corrosion.
- Organic coatings generally have excellent adhesive properties on ECCS and are therefore used particularly for plated cans and standard food can bottoms.
Applications
Tinplate is used worldwide in the packaging industry: manufacture of cans for food, beverage and general line (chemical or technical) products, but there are also many "non packaging" applications, such as:
- Automotive components: oil filters, cylinder head gaskets etc
- Building trade: space bars for double glazing, false ceiling rails, light reflectors, radiator fins, reinforced tape etc
- In the home: cake tins, gas canister components etc
- Electrical and electronic equipment: batteries, electrical components etc
Benefits:
Tinplate for packaging is a material full of advantages.
Tinplate is a natural, 100% recyclable & ecological and "cost effective" material, primarily used for packaging, with some unique competitive advantages, as it is:
- A safe material
- Impermeable from light and oxygen and any other outside interference
- Tinplate cans preserve the nutrient values from food without the need for preservatives.
- Tinplate packing is unbreakable and durable making it ideal for the safe transportation of any product.
One can easily print on Tinplate with excellent printed results and it is ideal for rapid mass production.
Tinplate and environment - a real sustainable solution.
The Tinplate used in packaging is fully recyclable. Tinplate obtained from the recycling process is over 72% of production in Europe and 65% worldwide.
Because of Tinplate's magnetic properties, the recycling process is fast, easy and thus economical, resulting a reduced need for new ore mining.
PrometalBakli uses Tinplate responsibly and with care, as the most sustainable solution for the packaging needs of today's world.
Click to download an educational leaflet on the advantages of Tinplate (only in Greek)
