8011
The workhorse lidding alloy. Iron and silicon give good strength and pinhole resistance at thin gauges. Used soft (O) for embossed and deep-drawn lids, or in H14 – H18 for stiffer flat lids that must be die-cut cleanly.
Guide · Closure materials
Aluminium Foil and Strip for Lids, EOE and POE Can Ends
Lids and can ends use two very different aluminium products. Heat-sealed lids on cups, trays and capsules are made from coated foil, typically 8011, 8079 or 1235 at 30 – 90 µm. Rigid easy-open ends (EOE) and the rings of peel-off ends (POE) are stamped from much thicker, harder strip, mainly 5182 and 5052. This guide explains which alloy, temper, gauge and coating suits each closure, and what to specify when you buy.
- Lid foil
- 8011 · 8079 · 1235, 30 – 90 µm
- End strip
- 5182 · 5052 · 3104
- Tempers
- O, H14 – H18 · H19, H48
- Standards
- EN 541 · EN 546 · EN 602
Three closure types, three material families
Before choosing a grade, be clear which closure you are supplying. The term "lid" covers everything from a 35 µm yogurt seal to a 0.25 mm beverage can end, and the materials have almost nothing in common apart from the base metal.
| Closure | How it works | Aluminium product | Typical alloys and tempers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat-sealed lid (peelable membrane) | Die-cut foil sealed onto a plastic, paper or aluminium container with a heat-seal coating | Coated foil, about 30 – 90 µm | 8011-O / H14 – H18, 8079-O, 1235-O |
| Easy-open end (EOE) | Rigid stamped end with a scored panel and riveted tab or ring, double-seamed to the can body | Coated strip, about 0.20 – 0.40 mm | 5182-H19 / H48, 5052-H19 / H48 |
| Peel-off end (POE) | A rigid ring seamed to the can with a foil membrane heat-sealed across the opening | Strip for the ring plus heavy coated foil for the membrane | Ring: 5052 or 3104; membrane: 8011 or similar |
The rest of this guide treats lidding foil and end strip separately. For the alloys behind can bodies, see 3004 / 3104 can body stock; for dedicated end stock, see 5182 and 5052 can end coil.
Aluminium foil for heat-sealed lids
Lidding foil must seal reliably to the container, peel cleanly when the consumer opens it, form an absolute barrier to light, oxygen and moisture, and print or emboss attractively. The foil itself provides the barrier; the coatings provide sealing, printability and protection.
8079
Higher iron and very low silicon give excellent ductility and puncture resistance in the soft temper. Preferred for peelable and laminated structures and for lids that must resist puncture in transit.
1235
Commercial-purity foil with excellent ductility and a bright surface; used for flexible seals and laminated lid stock where strength is less important.
| Coating structure | Use |
|---|---|
| Heat-seal lacquer on one side, print primer or protective lacquer on the other | The most common lid construction: dairy cups, dessert pots, portion packs, capsules |
| Lacquer on both sides | Protection and appearance where the lid is crimped or the seal is made with a separate liner |
| Foil laminated to PET or PE film | Peelable lids with controlled opening force and higher tear resistance; retort and hot-fill lids |
| Coloured or embossed surface | Silver, gold, white or custom colours and embossed patterns for branding and easy de-stacking |
The heat-seal coating must match the container material, such as polystyrene, polypropylene, PET, PVC or aluminium, and the filling conditions: cold fill, hot fill, pasteurisation or retort. A coating that seals well to polystyrene may not seal to polypropylene at all, so always state the container material and process when ordering. Read why heat-sealed foil fails to adhere for typical sealing faults.
Aluminium strip for easy-open and peel-off ends
Can ends must withstand internal pressure (beverage) or vacuum and retort cycles (food) without buckling, be scored precisely so they open with a predictable force, and form tight double seams. That needs a hard, strong strip with good formability and a fully protective internal lacquer.
5182-H19 / H48
An Al-Mg alloy with about 4 – 5 % magnesium and the highest strength of the common end alloys. The standard for beverage can ends and tabs, and widely used for food EOE. H48 is the coated-and-cured equivalent of H19, accounting for softening in the lacquer oven.
5052-H19 / H48
Lower magnesium (2.2 – 2.8 %) and good corrosion resistance. Used for food-can EOE, aerosol and specialty ends, and the rings of peel-off ends, where very high strength is not required.
3104 / 3004
Al-Mn-Mg alloys used mainly for can bodies; also used for some shallow lids, closures and POE rings where formability matters more than end-panel strength.
Peel-off ends combine both worlds: a rigid ring stamped from strip is seamed to the can, and a coated foil membrane is heat-sealed across the aperture. The membrane foil must withstand retort sterilisation while remaining peelable, so its heat-seal system is carefully matched to the ring coating.
Chemical composition of lid and end alloys (wt %, max unless range)
| Element | 8011 | 8079 | 1235 | 5182 | 5052 | 3104 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Si | 0.50 – 0.9 | 0.05 – 0.30 | 0.65 (Si + Fe) | 0.20 | 0.25 | 0.6 |
| Fe | 0.6 – 1.0 | 0.7 – 1.3 | — | 0.35 | 0.40 | 0.8 |
| Cu | 0.10 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.15 | 0.10 | 0.05 – 0.25 |
| Mn | 0.20 | — | 0.05 | 0.20 – 0.50 | 0.10 | 0.8 – 1.4 |
| Mg | 0.05 | — | 0.05 | 4.0 – 5.0 | 2.2 – 2.8 | 0.8 – 1.3 |
| Cr | 0.05 | — | — | 0.10 | 0.15 – 0.35 | — |
| Zn | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.25 | 0.10 | 0.25 |
| Ti | 0.08 | — | 0.06 | 0.10 | — | 0.10 |
| Al | Remainder | Remainder | 99.35 min. | Remainder | Remainder | Remainder |
Limits from the Aluminum Association registrations and EN 573-3. Mechanical properties depend strongly on gauge, temper and coating cure; specify them on the order and check the mill certificate.
Quality points that decide line performance
| Property | Why it matters | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Pinholes | Barrier integrity at thin gauges; counted per square metre | Lid foil |
| Surface cleanliness and wettability | Coating adhesion and seal strength depend on low residual oil | Foil and strip |
| Coating weight and cure | Seal strength, peel force, chemical resistance and food-contact compliance | Foil and strip |
| Thickness tolerance | Consistent sealing, die-cutting, score residual and seam dimensions | Foil and strip |
| Earing and anisotropy | Even forming of end shells and countersinks on high-speed presses | End strip |
| Strength after bake | Buckle and pressure resistance of the finished end | End strip |
| Flatness and coil set | Smooth feeding through presses and lidding machines | Foil and strip |
Food-contact compliance covers both the metal and the coatings. The aluminium composition should meet EN 602 for food contact in Europe, and coatings must comply with the regulations of the destination market, such as EU Regulation 1935/2004 and the relevant US FDA rules for coatings. Ask for compliance declarations alongside the mill certificate.
Typical lid and end applications
- Dairy: yogurt, dessert and cream cups sealed with coated 8011 or 8079 lids
- Coffee and beverages: capsule lids and portion-pack seals that must resist pressure during brewing
- Ready meals and pet food: tray lids and peel-off ends that survive retort sterilisation
- Beverage cans: 5182 ends and tabs for beer, soft drinks and energy drinks
- Food cans: EOE for fish, meat, fruit and vegetables; POE for powdered milk, nuts and infant formula
- Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical: induction and heat-seal lids for jars and containers
How to specify and order
- Closure and processDescribe the closure (cup lid, EOE, POE), container material, filling and sterilisation process.
- MaterialAlloy, temper, gauge and tolerance, coil width, inner diameter and maximum outer diameter or coil weight.
- CoatingsHeat-seal and protective lacquer types and weights, colour or print primer, or laminate structure.
- ComplianceFood-contact declarations required for the destination market; mill certificate to EN 10204 3.1.
- Packing and termsCoils packed eye-to-sky or eye-to-wall with desiccant in sealed wooden cases; terms EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP.
References and standards
- EN 541 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: rolled products for cans, closures and lids
- EN 546 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: foil
- EN 602 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: wrought products, chemical composition of semi-finished products used for articles in contact with food
- ASTM B479 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Foil for Flexible Barrier, Food Contact, and Other Applications
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
Lid foil and can end strip: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between EOE and POE?
An easy-open end (EOE) is a rigid stamped end with a scored panel and a tab or ring that tears the panel open. A peel-off end (POE) has a rigid ring seamed to the can and a foil membrane heat-sealed across the opening, which the consumer peels away.
Which aluminium alloy is used for beverage can ends?
5182 in H19 or the coated H48 temper is the standard end and tab alloy because of its high strength. 3004 and 3104 are used for can bodies, not normally for beverage ends.
Which foil is best for yogurt and dessert lids?
8011 and 8079 foil, usually 30 – 50 µm, with a heat-seal lacquer matched to the cup material on one side and a printable lacquer on the other. 8079 is chosen where extra ductility and puncture resistance help.
Why must the heat-seal coating match the container?
Heat-seal lacquers are formulated to bond to specific polymers. A lacquer designed for polystyrene may not seal to polypropylene or PET, so the container material and filling process must be specified.
What does H48 mean for can end stock?
H48 describes strain-hardened strip that has been lacquered and stoved; it accounts for the slight softening during coating cure and delivers properties comparable to H19 in the finished end.
Do you supply coated foil and strip?
Yes. Metline supplies lidding foil and end strip bare or coated to your specification, slit to width, with food-contact declarations and mill certificates, for delivery worldwide.
Sourcing lid foil or can end strip?
Send the closure type, alloy, gauge, width, coating system and volume. We will reply with availability and a delivered price.
