Whether it's lunch boxes, gift wrappers, or food packaging, aluminum foil is a very common wrapping material in our daily life. However, when purchasing aluminum foil, we should choose the right grade and thickness based on the intended application. As an experienced aluminum foil manufacturer, HTMM produces a variety of grades that are suitable for different purposes. In this article, we will analyze the key characteristics and uses of 3003 H24, 8011 H24 and 8006 H24 aluminum foil.
Different Aluminum Alloys for Different Needs
Aluminum foil is mainly manufactured using one of three aluminum alloys - 3003, 8011 and 8006. Each alloy has its own performance advantages due to differences in alloying elements.
3003 H24 aluminum foil contains manganese as the main alloying element. It has good thermal conductivity and is widely used for household cooking and barbecue due to its high heat resistance up to 250°C. However, its mechanical properties are relatively poor.
8006 H24 aluminum foil contains a small amount of chromium in addition to manganese. It has improved strength and is often used for semi-rigid containers and lids that require some durability. But the heat resistance is slightly lower than 3003.
8011 H24 aluminum foil is added with chromium and has the highest strength of the three grades. Foil produced from 8011 alloy is flexible yet quite durable, making it suitable for various food delivery containers and wrappings. It can withstand heat treatment at 210°C without problems.
In summary, 3003 aluminum foil is best for household cooking due to its good heat resistance. 8006 foil combines strength and heat resistance for semi-rigid containers. While 8011 foil offers the best balance of mechanical properties and temperature resistance for wrappings and flexible containers. Let's examine their characteristics and applications in more detail.
3003 H24 Aluminum Foil Ideal for Home Cooking
As a manufacturer specialized in 3003 aluminum foil production, HTMM's product has good thermal conductivity and stable quality. It is soft and flexible with a melting point as high as 650°C, making it very heat resistant.
Many home cooks enjoy using 3003 foil for grilling, baking or roasting. You can wrap meat, seafood or vegetables with foil and put directly onto the grill. The foil seals in moisture and flavors. It is also suitable for making DIY kimchi containers that can be heated during the fermentation process.
The high heat resistance of 3003 foil guarantees food safety up to 250°C. It will not burn or stick to the food even after long time heating. Moreover, 3003 foil is recyclable after use for environmental protection. Its softness and conformability also make shaping and crimping easy.
In summary, for home-based cooking methods like grilling, roasting or steaming which require withstanding high heat, 3003 grade aluminum foil is the best choice. Its excellent thermostability ensures safe food processing.
8006 H24 Aluminum Foil Suits Semi-Rigid Containers
Compared with 3003 grade, 8006 aluminum foil has higher strength attributed to chromium added. Our 8006 product has an average thickness of 20-50 microns.
When you need containers or lids that are not completely rigid but can maintain some shape for stacking or transportation, 8006 foil is more suitable. For example, you can use it to make microwave snack boxes, reusable takeout boxes or oven cooking trays.
8006 foil has heat resistance up to 220°C. Although lower than 3003, it meets the needs of normal cooking methods. As a semi-rigid material, 8006 foil containers can avoid accidental crushing to some extent compared to fully flexible foils.
Moreover, its non-toxic and corrosion resistance properties allow for direct food contact. The containers made of 8006 aluminum foil are lightweight yet durable, and easy for cleaning and reuse. It gives users more options than plastic in pursuing environmental friendliness.
In summary, for semi-rigid aluminum foil containers or lids that require some durability rather than full softness, 8006 grade provides a good balance between mechanical strength and food-grade performance. It suits various takes-out and microwave dinner packaging needs.
8011 H24 Aluminum Foil Excellent for Wrapping
As for wrappings and highly flexible containers, 8011 aluminum foil becomes the top choice. Our 8011 product provides maximum tensile strength up to 35N/15mm.
Whether wrapping sandwiches for lunch boxes or covering dishes for food delivery, 8011 foil is pliable, tear-resistant and easy to seal well without hot glue or tape. Its strength outperforms common plastic films or parchment paper by a large margin.
In addition, the melting point of 8011 foil can reach as high as 660°C, allowing heat resistance up to 210°C in a short-term baking environment. It is proven safe for various cooking methods like steaming, microwaving and slow cooking.
Homemade cooking commonly uses 8011 foil to wrap pieces of meat or seafood neatly before steaming or oven-baking, creating a moisture-sealed layer. It is also ideal material for DIY aluminum foil roses, pomanders and gift boxes thanks to good formability and smoothness.
In conclusion, if you need a highly flexible yet durable wrapping or food wrapping material that can withstand moderate heat treatment, 8011 grade aluminum foil gives the best overall performance and versatility among options.
Proper Thickness Should Match the Usage
In addition to selecting the right alloy type, thickness is another key factor to consider when choosing aluminum foil. Generally speaking:
30-50 microns are suitable for oven cooking and steaming at lower temperatures.
50-80 microns provide a balance between flexibility and barrier properties for containers.
Below 20 microns are lighter weight foils mainly used for household wrap and decoration.
I hope this introduction has helped you better understand the different grades of aluminum foil based on their characteristics and common applications. Choosing materials wisely can not only meet usage needs but also provide the best cost-effectiveness. Please contact us for aluminum foil products if you are looking for stable and green-certified supplies
