FAQs

Learn More About Services & Products from All Foils

Have questions about the specifics of metal processing? How are aluminum foil sheets made? Wondering what kinds of materials All Foils works with? Why is aluminum spelled differently in other countries? We have listed many of the answers to your metal questions below. Check below to see if your question is answered. Don’t see it here? Ask us! We’ll be sure to answer you quickly.

What is the difference between Ferrous Metal and Non-Ferrous Metal?

Ferrous metal contains iron. The word itself is derived from the Latin word ferrum which literally means “iron”. Ferrous metals include steel and stainless steel.

A non-ferrous metal is any metal that does not contain iron. Common non-ferrous metals are aluminum, brass, copper, lead, nickel, tin and zinc.

Is there a difference between aluminum coiled foil and aluminum coiled sheet?

ASTM International defines coiled foil as aluminum in thicknesses .0005″ – .0059″, coiled sheets are aluminum in thicknesses .006″ – .019″. Other terms of aluminum foil include light gauge referring to aluminum thicknesses .0001″ – .00049″ and heavy gauge referring to aluminum thicknesses .020″ and above.

How are aluminum sheet and aluminum foil produced?

Aluminum is passed between rolls under pressure, which makes it thinner and longer.

Is it aluminum or aluminium?

In 1808, Sir Humphry Davy proposed the name aluminum for the metal. However, the name aluminium was adopted to conform with the “ium” ending of most elements. This spelling is in use in most countries. Aluminium was also the spelling in the U.S. until 1925 when the American Chemical Society officially decided to use the name aluminum instead.

What is the difference between Aluminum Foil and Tin Foil?

Aluminum is often confused with tin, such as tin foil, etc. Aluminum has replaced tin in most industrial applications, such as cans. Tin is considered to be toxic to humans whereas specific aluminum alloys have been FDA approved for direct and indirect food contact.

What is the difference between hard and soft foil?

The lowest or basic strength of aluminum and each of its alloys is determined when the metal is in the annealed or soft condition. This is designated as the O (letter O) temper. For example, the annealed condition for alloy 1145 is written 1145-O. Annealing consists of heating the metal to the appropriate temperature for the correct period of time. The re-roll stock from which foil gauges are produced, for example, is annealed prior to the rolling operations so that it will be of maximum workability. All alloys can be annealed. All alloys also are strain-hardened and strengthened when cold worked, as in foil rolling. When the final product is wanted in the soft condition, it is given a final anneal.

Because aluminum and some of its alloys are strengthened beyond their basic strengths only by strain hardening, they are non-heat treatable. Nearly all the foil presently produced is rolled from non-heat treatable alloys, which are given H number temper designations for the various specific strain-hardened conditions in which they are made. For example, common foil availability is alloy 1145-H19 where the H1 means strain hardened and the next digit indicates the degree of hardening, the 9 meaning full hard.

What types of bare metal products does All Foils offer?

All Foils has a large selection of bare metal products to choose from. You can find aluminum, copper, stainless steel, nickel and carbon steel foil coils, rolls, sheet and more.

What types of coated products does All Foils offer?

All Foils offer a selection of coated products that includes heat seals, corrosion resistant epoxies, slip lubes, print primers, release coatings and adhesion promoters.

What types of printed products does All Foils carry?

We offer printed and coated foils for a number of applications including food service foils, heavy duty ham wrap, blue vein cheese wrap, candy wrap, logo printed foils, matte black cinefoil and arts and crafts foils.

If I need a specific color of foil, can All Foils help?

Yes. All Foils has over 100 formulated colors and an in-house lab technician who can formulate a color that meets your branding requirements and color preferences.

Are All Foils’ products environmentally friendly?

Yes. Materials purchased from All Foils are compliant to regulations defined in RoHS II, SVHC, REACH and Conflict Minerals. Learn more about our compliance with these regulations.

How is All Foils certified?

All Foils is ISO 9001:2008 (Without Design) Certified. In compliance with the ISO 9001 requirements, All Foils consistently meets the changing demands in the industry by working with the individual needs and specifications of our customers.

What industries does All Foils work with?

All Foils provides a select group of industries with the foil products they need. We provide high-quality products with the fastest lead times for applications including food service, automotive, medical, arts and crafts, cryogenic and electronics. Click here to view more.

Who can I talk to for help with my application?

With many years of experience helping our customers with even the toughest challenges, we’re happy to answer your questions and help you with your application. Click here to contact a foil specialist today.