Packaging Testing

Tinplate Packaging testing

ITA Labs has considerable knowledge on tinplate for food packaging and is able to use this experience to solve tinplate packaging issues for companies from across the supply chain (material suppliers, lacquer producers, can makers, fillers and retailers).

The laboratory team provides independent verification of tinplate material specifications to international standards, such as EN10202.  Analysis of tinplate can help to verify that the correct tin coating and chromium passivation coating weights have been applied, that the mechanical properties are within specifications and that dimensions and shape are within tolerances.

We can also help with investigating corrosion issues in tinplate cans, utilising a variety of testing techniques, supported by knowledge on tinplate gathered over 50 years in the International Tin Research Institute archive.

Testing services include:

• Total tin, free tin, alloy layer, passivation, tin oxide coating weight analysis (coulometric testing)
• Temper testing (Tensile testing and/or Rockwell Hardness)
• Optical microscopy
• Scanning electron microscopy and EDX analysis
• Lacquer adhesion / continuity
• FT-IR
• Thermal analysis (TGA/DSC)
• Salt spray (ASTM B117), SO₂, cyclic testing chambers
• ED-XRF – spot analysis for coating thicknesses and analysis
• X-ray inspection

To discuss your potential requirements, contact Tony at tony.wallace@internationaltin.org