3104 aluminum coil is a widely used alloy for manufacturing can bodies, especially for beverage and food containers where strength, formability, and corrosion resistance are critical. As an aluminum-manganese-magnesium alloy in the 3xxx series, 3104 offers a favorable balance of mechanical properties and workability, making it a top choice for drawn and ironed (D&I) and two-piece can body production.
Functions and Advantages of 3104 Aluminum Coil
Excellent Formability: 3104 provides high elongation and uniform properties that allow deep drawing and ironing processes, enabling lightweight, thin-wall can bodies without cracking.
Good Strength: Compared with pure aluminum (1xxx series) and some other 3xxx alloys, 3104 exhibits enhanced tensile strength due to magnesium addition, allowing reduced gauge thickness for weight savings.
Corrosion Resistance: The manganese content improves resistance to general corrosion, important for food and beverage packaging.
Weldability and Joinability: Compatible with typical can manufacturing operations, including mechanical seaming and resistance welding.
Surface Finish and Coating Compatibility: 3104 responds well to surface treatments and lacquers used inside cans to prevent product-metal interaction and extend shelf life.
Cost-effective: Offers a balance of performance and price suitable for high-volume packaging applications.
Primary Applications
Beverage Cans (carbonated drinks, beer, juices)
Food Cans (pet food, canned goods)
Aerosol Containers (where applicable)
Some specialty packaging requiring deep draw/formable aluminumNote: For ends and lids, other alloys (e.g., 5182, 6016 for aluminum-protected rims, or 3004/3104 variants) may be used; 3104 is primarily optimized for can bodies.
Relevant Standards and Typical Compliance
ASTM B209 — Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate
ASTM B221 — Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes (relevant for comparables)
EN 573 / EN 485 — Chemical composition and mechanical properties of aluminum and aluminum alloys (European standards)
ISO 6361 — Wrought aluminum and aluminum alloy sheet, strip and plate (often referenced regionally)
National/regional food contact regulations for packaging (e.g., FDA CFR for food contact, EU Regulation No 1935/2004) — internal can coatings must complyWhen sourcing, verify supplier mill certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, etc.) and test reports per purchaser specifications.
Chemical Composition (Typical for 3104 alloy)Note: Values below are typical ranges; refer to supplier mill certificates for exact batch values.
Aluminum (Al): Balance (≥ 96.0–97.5% typical)
Silicon (Si): ≤ 0.6%
Iron (Fe): ≤ 0.7%
Copper (Cu): ≤ 0.1%
Manganese (Mn): 1.0–1.5% (primary alloying element)
Magnesium (Mg): 0.5–1.0%
Zinc (Zn): ≤ 0.25%
Titanium (Ti): ≤ 0.2%
Others (each): ≤ 0.05–0.10%; (total other elements): ≤ 0.15–0.20%
Mechanical Properties (Typical, depends on temper and gauge)
Temper: O (annealed) to H19, H24 etc. — manufacturing temper selected for forming stages
Tensile Strength (Rm):
O temper: ~95–155 MPa (varies with gauge)
H19/H24 (strain-hardened/partial anneal): higher, typically 170–240 MPa range depending on exact temper
Yield Strength (Rp0.2): ~40–150 MPa depending on temper
Elongation (A): 6–35% depending on temper and thickness
Hardness (Brinell or Vickers): low to moderate, dependent on temper
Alloy Tempering Conditions and Typical Uses in Can Production
O (Annealed): Maximum formability, used when greatest drawability is required. Often used as the starting coil for drawing and ironing.
H1x (Strain-hardened, no heat treatment): Example H18/H19 — increased strength via cold work; used where higher body strength is needed but may still require some formability.
H2x (Some stabilized tempers): H24 — strain hardened and partially annealed for a balance between strength and formability; commonly used for can bodies after certain processing steps.
H3x (Solution heat treated and naturally aged): Less common for 3xxx series; the H3 temper variants are limited.Selection guidance:
For D&I can bodies, coils are supplied in tempers optimized for deep drawing, often annealed (O) prior to forming or in controlled tempers that allow ironing to final gauge without cracking.
For two-piece drawn-and-ironed (D&I) lines, material should show consistent r-values (plastic anisotropy) and Lankford coefficients suitable for deep draw.
Physical Properties (approximate)
Density: 2.70 g/cm3
Melting range: 640–660 °C (aluminum-rich alloys)
Thermal conductivity: ~138–165 W/m·K (depends on alloying)
Electrical conductivity: lower than pure Al due to alloying, typically 30–40% IACS
Surface and Coil Parameters (typical specs for can body coils)
Thickness (Gauge): Often 0.18–0.40 mm for beverage cans; common can-body gauges include 0.19 mm, 0.21 mm, 0.24 mm depending on design and process.
Width: Custom to customer requirements and slitter lines; common widths from 200 mm to 1600 mm for various can lines.
Coil ID/OD: Standard coil body dimensions per mill and customer equipment (e.g., ID 508 mm/610 mm; OD per weight)
Temper/skin-passed surface finish: Requires smooth surface, controlled roughness to ensure lacquer adhesion and printing quality.
Edge condition: Slit edges must be burr-free to prevent line issues; edge trim specs per purchaser.
Typical Test Values and Quality Control
Chemical composition analysis (spectrometry) per lot
Mechanical testing: tensile, yield, elongation
Flatness and coil winding parameters
Surface roughness and visual inspection (for surface defects)
Cup drawing tests and forming trials (to evaluate deep draw performance)
Microstructure and grain size analysis (as requested)
Coating adhesion tests for lacquered sheets (peel tests, blister tests)
Corrosion and Coating Considerations
3104 provides useful natural corrosion resistance for can bodies, but internal coatings (lacquers or epoxy phenolic coatings) are essential for many food and beverage products to prevent metal-product interaction and corrosion from acidic contents.
Exterior surfaces may be printed and then varnished/varnished for decoration and protection.
Compatibility with can coating systems and cure cycles must be checked with coating suppliers.
Processing and Fabrication Notes
Preheat and annealing cycles should follow mill recommendations to avoid over-aging or embrittlement.
Lubrication and press parameters are critical during deep drawing and ironing to minimize metal flow defects.
Control of coil flatness and residual stress is important to prevent wrinkling during draw.
When reducing gauge via ironing, ensure alloy temper and hardness are consistent to avoid splitting.
Comparisons with Similar Alloys
3003/3004 vs 3104: 3104 typically offers higher strength and slightly better drawability than 3003 due to added Mn and Mg, making it favorable for thinner can-body gauges.
5182: Higher Mg (Al-Mg alloy) usually used for can ends (good drawability and higher strength). 3104 remains popular for bodies due to balance of properties and cost.
Typical Specification Table (summarized)
Alloy: 3104
Primary use: Can bodies (drawn and ironed beverage/food cans)
Typical chem. composition: Mn 1.0–1.5%; Mg 0.5–1.0%; Fe ≤0.7%; Si ≤0.6%; Cu ≤0.1%; balance Al
Tempers: O, H18, H19, H24 (selected per forming needs)
Thickness range: ~0.18–0.40 mm (typical beverage can gauges: 0.19–0.24 mm)
Density: 2.70 g/cm3
Tensile strength: ~95–240 MPa (depending on temper)
Elongation: ~6–35% (depending on temper and thickness)
Purchasing and Specification Tips
Request mill test certificates (chemical and mechanical) and certificate of compliance for food contact if internal coatings are applied.
Supply target can design (final gauge, can diameter, drawing ratio) so the mill can recommend the appropriate temper and initial coil thickness.
Specify surface finish requirements, lacquer compatibility, and slit-edge tolerances.
Consider lifecycle and recyclability: 3104 is fully recyclable, and scrap handling adds to cost-effectiveness.
3104 aluminum coil is a proven, cost-effective choice for can bodies requiring excellent formability, adequate strength, and good corrosion resistance. Choosing the correct temper, coil gauge, and surface treatments allows manufacturers to produce lightweight, high-quality cans for beverage and food markets. For procurement, ensure compliance with applicable ASTM/EN/ISO standards and validate material properties through mill certificates and forming trials to match your specific can production line and product requirements.
