8011
The most common coated-foil alloy. Iron and silicon give good strength and formability at thin gauges; used for lids, containers, capsules, closures and blister foil.
Coated foil guide
Colour Coated Aluminium Foil
Colour coated aluminium foil is foil that has been lacquered, painted or polymer-coated on one or both sides in a continuous coil-coating line. The coating adds colour and branding, heat-sealability, corrosion protection, food-contact safety or a functional surface such as a hydrophilic or non-stick layer. This guide explains the alloys, coating systems, applications and quality tests buyers should specify.
- Alloys
- 8011, 8079, 8006, 3003, 3105, 1100, 1200
- Gauge
- About 0.015 – 0.2 mm foil; heavier lacquered strip
- Coatings
- Epoxy, polyester, vinyl, NC, PE, heat-seal
- Width
- Slit coils, roughly 10 – 1,300 mm
What is colour coated aluminium foil?
Bare aluminium foil is an excellent barrier, but on its own it is silver, it cannot be heat-sealed to plastics, and it can react with acidic or salty foods. A thin organic coating, usually just a few micrometres thick, solves each of these problems while keeping the barrier, formability and light weight of the foil.
The term "colour coated" covers a wide family. At one end are gold, red or blue lacquered foils used for chocolate wraps, container lids and wine capsules. At the other are functional coatings that may be clear or colourless: heat-seal lacquers for lidding and blister packs, protective epoxy lacquers for food containers, hydrophilic coatings for air-conditioner fins, PE extrusion coatings for insulation laminates, PTFE for release surfaces and carbon coatings for battery electrodes.
What they share is the process. The foil is unwound, cleaned, sometimes pre-treated, coated by rollers or gravure cylinders, cured in an oven and rewound, all in one continuous pass. Coating chemistry, coat weight and cure determine the properties, so the coating specification matters as much as the alloy.
Typical specification range
- Alloys
- 1100, 1200, 1235 (pure grades); 3003, 3105 (manganese); 8011, 8079, 8006 (iron-silicon)
- Tempers
- O (soft) for forming and wrapping; H14, H16, H18, H22, H24 for stiffness
- Thickness
- About 0.015 – 0.2 mm for foil; lacquered strip for closures up to about 0.4 mm
- Width
- Slit from about 10 mm up to roughly 1,300 mm
- Core
- 76 mm or 152 mm (3 or 6 inch) inside diameter, steel, aluminium or paper
- Coated sides
- One side or both sides, with different coatings on each face if required
- Colours
- Gold, silver, red, blue, green, black, white, copper, bronze and custom shades matched to RAL or Pantone
Coating types and what they do
| Coating | Main purpose | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|
| Epoxy lacquer | Chemical and corrosion resistance, food contact, good forming | Food containers and lids, pharmaceutical caps |
| Polyester lacquer | Weather and UV resistance, colour stability, flexibility | Roofing and insulation facing, decorative foil |
| Vinyl lacquer | Adhesion and flexibility, heat-seal compatibility | Closures, capsules, lidding foils |
| Nitrocellulose (NC) primer or colour | Fast-drying print base and colour | Wine capsules, labels, confectionery foils |
| Heat-seal lacquer | Bonds foil to PS, PVC, PP, PE or PET under heat and pressure | Dairy and dessert lids, blister packs, capsule lids |
| PE / LDPE extrusion coating | Heat-sealable, moisture-resistant polymer layer | Insulation laminates, protective packaging, camping mats |
| Hydrophilic coating | Spreads condensate into a film so water drains from fins | Air-conditioner and heat-exchanger fin stock |
| PTFE coating | Non-stick, chemically inert, heat resistant release surface | Heat-sealing jaw covers, work surface and duct linings |
| Carbon coating | Lowers contact resistance and improves adhesion of electrode paste | Lithium-ion battery cathode current collectors |
| Slip / lubricant | Reduces friction for die-cutting, forming and stacking | Container stock, lids, closures |
Coat weights are specified in grams per square metre per side. A print primer may be under 1 g/m², a colour lacquer 1 – 3 g/m², a heat-seal lacquer several g/m² and an extruded PE layer tens of g/m². Ask for coat weight with tolerance, not just "coated".
Choosing the base alloy and temper
8079
Higher-iron alloy with excellent ductility and puncture resistance in O temper; chosen for lidding, blister and bottle-neck foil.
8006
Stronger iron-manganese foil for semi-rigid containers and fin stock where stiffness matters.
3003 / 3105
Manganese alloys for stiffer containers, closures and hydrophilic fin stock.
1100 / 1200 / 1235
Pure grades for maximum ductility, conductivity and pinhole performance; used for roofing laminates, labels and battery foil.
Temper
O temper for wrapping, embossing and deep forming; H18 for blister lidding that must push through cleanly; H14 – H24 for closures and containers.
How foil is colour coated
- Unwind and cleanThe coil is unwound under controlled tension. Residual rolling oil is removed by annealing or by an alkaline wash.
- Pre-treatA chemical conversion or primer layer may be applied to improve lacquer adhesion and corrosion resistance.
- CoatRoller coaters or gravure cylinders apply the lacquer at a controlled film weight; both sides can be coated in one pass on double-sided lines.
- CureThe web passes through a hot-air oven where solvent evaporates and the resin cross-links. Cure temperature and dwell are critical.
- Cool and inspectThe web is cooled and checked for colour, coat weight and defects, often by in-line cameras.
- Rewind, slit and packCoils are rewound, slit to width, and packed with end boards and moisture protection.
Further conversion can follow: embossing, printing by rotogravure or flexo, lamination to paper or film, or cutting into sheets and lids. For buyers, the key point is that under-cured or over-cured lacquer looks the same but behaves differently, which is why solvent rub and bend tests appear on the certificate.
Applications and typical specifications
| Application | Typical alloy and temper | Typical gauge | Coating system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food containers and covers | 8011, 8006, 3003, 3105; H14 – H24 | About 0.04 – 0.1 mm | Clear or white food-contact lacquer inside; colour or print outside; optional lubricant |
| Dairy and dessert lids | 8011, 8079; O | About 0.03 – 0.05 mm | Heat-seal lacquer to PS, PP, PVC or PET; print primer outside |
| Pharmaceutical blister (PTP) lidding | 8011, 8079; H18 or O | About 0.02 – 0.03 mm | Heat-seal lacquer to PVC or PVDC; primer for printing |
| Wine and bottle-neck capsules | 8011, 8079; O | About 0.04 – 0.08 mm | Colour or primer outside; heat-seal lacquer inside |
| Closures and caps | 8011, 3105; H14, H24 | About 0.18 – 0.4 mm (lacquered strip) | Epoxy, vinyl or polyester, clear or coloured |
| Chocolate and confectionery wrap | 1235, 8079; O | About 8 – 15 µm | Colour lacquer, often embossed |
| Roofing and insulation facing | 1100, 1200, 8011, 8079; O | Foil gauges, laminated | Weather-resistant polyester or PE coating |
| Air-conditioner fin stock | 1100, 1200, 3102, 8011; H22 – H26 | Fin gauges | Hydrophilic, often with corrosion-resistant base coat |
Gauge ranges are typical market values for guidance. The final specification is set by the converter or packer together with forming and sealing trials.
Quality tests for coated foil
A coated foil is only as good as its coating performance. These are the tests most often specified; agree the method and pass level before ordering.
| Test | What it shows | Common method |
|---|---|---|
| Solvent rub (MEK double rubs) | Degree of cure of the lacquer | Rub with MEK-soaked cloth until coating breaks through; e.g. ASTM D5402 |
| Adhesion | Coating bond to the metal | Cross-cut and tape test, e.g. ISO 2409 or ASTM D3359 |
| Flexibility (T-bend) | Cracking or loss of adhesion on bending | ECCA T7 / EN 13523-7 |
| Heat-seal peel strength | Bond strength to the target plastic | Seal under set temperature, pressure and time, then peel at a fixed rate (N/15 mm) |
| Coat weight | Amount of coating per side | Gravimetric strip test, g/m² |
| Porosity | Pinholes in the lacquer film | Copper sulphate or electrolytic test |
| Colour and gloss | Visual consistency between lots | ΔE against a master; gloss meter at 60° |
| Salt spray and UV | Durability of outdoor coatings | ASTM B117 neutral salt spray; ASTM G154 UV exposure |
| Heat resistance | Coating survival in sealing, baking or sterilisation | Dry heat or boiling water exposure as agreed |
Food and pharmaceutical contact
Most coated foil ends up touching food or medicine, so the coating must be suitable for that use. In the European Union, Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 sets the framework and Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 the good-manufacturing rules; aluminium semi-products for food contact follow the composition limits of EN 602. In the United States, coatings are typically formulated to FDA 21 CFR 175.300. Pharmaceutical blister foils must also satisfy the packaging requirements of the relevant pharmacopoeia and the drug owner.
- Ask for a declaration of compliance for the coated foil, not just for the lacquer supplier's raw material
- State the food type, temperature and contact time so that migration tests reflect real use
- Confirm whether the product will be baked, retorted, frozen or microwaved
- For printed foil, check set-off of inks onto the food-contact side during winding
Common mistakes when buying coated foil
Specifying colour only
Colour says nothing about cure, adhesion or heat resistance. Specify the resin type, coat weight and tests.
Wrong heat-seal lacquer
A lacquer designed for PS will not seal to PP. Name the exact container material.
No trial run
Sealing, forming and embossing must be proven on your own machines before bulk orders.
Ignoring the reverse side
The uncoated or primed side affects stacking, slip and printing. Define both faces.
Wrong core or coil size
Core diameter, outer diameter and winding direction must suit the unwind on your line.
Poor storage
Coated foil should be kept dry and away from heat to prevent blocking and lacquer changes.
How to order colour coated foil
- Base metalAlloy, temper, gauge and tolerance, width and coil size.
- CoatingsCoating type, colour and coat weight on each side; heat-seal target material if relevant.
- PerformanceRequired tests and pass levels, food-contact declaration and any regulatory needs.
- SamplesRequest samples for trials; approve a colour master and sealing results.
- Documents and shippingEN 10204 3.1 certificate plus coating test report; export packing in cases or on pallets; EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP.
References and standards
- EN 546 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: foil
- EN 602 – Chemical composition of wrought semi-products for food-contact articles
- Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food
- US FDA 21 CFR 175.300 – Resinous and polymeric coatings
- EN 13523 – Coil coated metals: test methods (including part 7, T-bend)
- ASTM B117 – Standard practice for operating salt spray (fog) apparatus
Colour coated aluminium (aluminum) foil: FAQ
What alloys are used for colour coated foil?
8011 is the most common, with 8079, 8006, 3003, 3105 and pure grades such as 1100, 1200 and 1235 chosen for specific forming, stiffness or barrier needs.
How thin can coated foil be?
Confectionery foils are coloured at about 8 – 15 µm, typically in laminated or wrapped form. Most lidding and container foils are in the 20 – 100 µm range.
Is coated foil safe for food contact?
Yes, when the coating is formulated and tested for food contact under the rules of the target market, such as EU Regulation 1935/2004 or FDA 21 CFR 175.300. Always request a declaration of compliance.
Can both sides be coated differently?
Yes. A common lid foil has a heat-seal lacquer on one side and a colour or print primer on the other. Both can be applied in one pass on a double-sided line.
How is coating cure checked?
Usually by a solvent rub test with MEK. A properly cured lacquer withstands a specified number of double rubs without breaking through.
Can you match a brand colour?
Colours can be matched to a RAL, Pantone or physical master within an agreed ΔE tolerance, subject to the coating system chosen.
Looking for colour coated aluminium foil?
Tell us the end use, alloy, gauge and coating on each side. We will propose a specification and send samples and a quotation.
