Metal product guide · Reviewed 31 July 2026
Aluminum Foil
A buyer guide distinguishing solid aluminum foil from foil stock, converter foil, foil laminate, and metallized film, with alloy, temper, gauge, pinhole, surface, and converting controls.
Terminology
Define the physical product before comparing offers
A grade names the material; a product specification controls the supplied form, dimensions, condition, tolerances, testing, and acceptance. Similar names do not make sheet and plate, or pipe and tube, interchangeable.
Material scope
Common materials and grades
Commercial definition
Forms and dimensions
Solid rolled foil ordered by alloy, temper, thickness, width, and reel geometry
Foil stock is rerolled into converter foil; converter foil may then be printed, coated, laminated, embossed, or slit
Foil laminate contains bonded layers, while metallized film is polymer film with a very thin deposited metal layer and is not solid foil
Ordering references
Standards and manufacturing route
Common product standards
- ASTM B479
- EN 546 series
Manufacturing and finishing
- Rolling stock is cold rolled through successive reductions to foil gauge, sometimes using double rolling at the final pass
- Annealing establishes temper and removes rolling lubricant to the specified surface cleanliness
- Slitting, coating, laminating, printing, embossing, and pouch or liner conversion require separate performance specifications
Acceptance controls
Quality and inspection
Verify alloy, temper, nominal gauge, gauge tolerance, width, and reel dimensions.
Define pinhole acceptance, wettability or surface cleanliness, and bright/matte side requirements.
For laminates, specify every layer, adhesive, total structure, bond strength, and barrier test method.
Confirm food-contact, pharmaceutical, electrical, moisture-barrier, or corrosion-protection documentation for the intended jurisdiction and use.
Agree core, winding, splice, pallet, moisture protection, traceability, and inspection sampling.
Use contexts
Common applications
- Flexible packaging and lidding
- Pharmaceutical blister and strip packs
- Cable shielding and thermal insulation
- Moisture-barrier liners for instruments, gas detectors, and export tool cases
Complete inquiry
RFQ checklist
| Control | Information to provide |
|---|---|
| 01 | Material grade and governing product specification |
| 02 | Dimensions, tolerances, and ordered quantity |
| 03 | Condition, finish, coating, edge, or end preparation |
| 04 | Required testing, inspection, and certification |
| 05 | Packing, marking, and traceability requirements |
| 06 | Destination port or delivery address |
| 07 | Required delivery date and shipment terms |
| 08 | Solid foil, foil stock, converter foil, laminate, or metallized film |
| 09 | Pinhole, wettability, barrier, adhesion, and regulatory test requirements |
Evidence
Sources and editorial review
Reviewed 31 July 2026. The purchase order and current governing specification remain the acceptance basis.
Source with specification context
Request a reviewed Aluminum foil offer
Send the checklist above so suppliers can quote the same product, inspection scope, documents, destination, and delivery target.