Tin containers are considered to be among the most popular packaging materials in the world. These small tin cans are easy and cheap to produce and can be crafted into any color, shape, and design. Although its name might suggest differently, these tins are, in fact, not made from tin. So, what are tin cans made of?
Although empty tins are generally called "Tin Cans", there are almost no modern tins that are produced solely from tin. The main reason why people call these empty cans "Tins" can be dated back to the late 20th century. Back then, cans were created out of tin-plated steel in order to combine the strength and affordability of steel with the corrosion resistance of tin.
Nowadays, empty tin cans are, generally speaking, crafted out of any thin metal. This can range from aluminum to steel or iron. Although not always, these small tin cans often come with a tin-plating. Ever since the 1960s, aluminum has by far become the number one choice for producing small tin cans. The reason behind this lies in the fact that it is cheaper and easier to form. Thanks to this, the manufacturing process has become less costly and less time-consuming compared to before. Therefore they can be made into many shapes like and so on. Aluminum is known to offer the same resistance to corrosion which makes it a perfect replacement.
The reason why empty cans are not crafted entirely out of tin lies in the fact that tin is, in fact, quite a rare material. Although it is considered to be a "common metal" instead of a "precious metal" like gold or platinum, it is still less available than you may think. In fact, tin may as well be one of the least available "common" metals out there. It is true that in the world there are only a limited number of mines that produce tin. Scientists are even going as far as predicting that, in the future, there will be a high chance that we are running out of tin completely.
Due to the above-stated reasons, it would be extremely expensive and difficult to create anything out of pure tin. This is especially the case for everyday objects such as packaging materials. As of today (August 2017), the price of tin amounts to US$20.61 per kilogram whereas aluminum only costs US$2.1 per kilogram. (LME, 2017) As you can imagine, this major price difference has led to the fact that manufacturers rather produce their tins out of different metals. Most empty cans that are nowadays produced are either made out of aluminum or another cheap alloy.
As for the bucket, of course we are well aware there are many choices when it comes to choosing buckets and containers like In terms of material, for instance, for many, many years the only option was some form of metal. Having said that, there was a time when buckets were made of wood, or hemp. Plastic really was the material of the 20th Century. And as the 21st Century beds in, it remains the perfect material for uses from the everyday to the industrial and commercial. We have thought through all options very carefully, and plastic remains the best solution for our buckets and containers.
First off, plastic is an incredibly strong, durable material. As well as containing an essential flexibility, it is extremely resilient, which is why it doesn't corrode, and can take so long to break down after use. Plastic can stand up to most climate circumstances and is much more resistant to the weather than many metal buckets, for instance. Plastic is likely to be resistant to the sun. The material can be adapted to combat extreme levels of UV light but even in its regular form it can stand up to a great deal of harsh treatment. And it doesn't need
This essential adaptability of plastic quality means that higher density, hard-wearing plastic can be further resistant against dents, damage and impact. The same is true for chemicals. You will often find plastic buckets and containers used in industries such as catering, agricultural, construction and health - whether for mixing, or storing, chemicals - because the material is impervious to so many different chemicals.
