# Aluminum Coke Cans

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-coke-cans/499439>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [June 11, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-coke-cans/499439 "2009-06-11T14:01:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dpbanana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@dpbanana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpbanana)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-coke-cans/499439/1 "2009-06-11T14:01:08Z")

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So, if the ph of Coke is 2.7 and it strongly reacts with aluminum, why aren’t aluminum Coke cans dissolved by the Coke? Do they have an invisible coating shielding them from the acid? How does this work?

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-coke-cans/499439/2 "2009-06-11T14:17:18Z")

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> **[Drink can](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage_can)**
>
> A drink can (or beverage can) is a metal container with a polymer interior designed to hold a fixed portion of liquid such as carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, fruit juices, teas, herbal teas, energy drinks, etc. Drink can exteriors are made of aluminum (75% of worldwide production) or tin-plated steel (25% worldwide production) and the interiors coated with an epoxy resin or polymer. Worldwide production for all drink cans is approximately 370 billion cans per year.
> The first commercial...

> [@](#):
>
> Aluminum cans contain an internal coating to protect the aluminum from the contents. If the internal coating fails, the contents will create a hole and the can will leak in a matter of days.

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-coke-cans/499439/3 "2009-06-11T14:28:17Z")

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Pretty much: [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1158/why-doesnt-coke-dissolve-the-can](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1158/why-doesnt-coke-dissolve-the-can)

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-coke-cans/499439/4 "2009-06-11T14:29:29Z")

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Oh, and here’s the link to the article that the OP is likely referring to:

[http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/111/why-does-ketchup-dissolve-aluminum-foil](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/111/why-does-ketchup-dissolve-aluminum-foil)

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**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-coke-cans/499439/5 "2009-06-11T14:29:40Z")

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The question is in reference to the column, [“Why does ketchup dissolve aluminum foil?” (June 25, 1982)](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/111/why-does-ketchup-dissolve-aluminum-foil).

[Can manufacturing process](http://www.cancentral.com/canc/nontext/manuf.htm) from the Can Manufacturer’s Institute, which corroborates **Telemark’s** wiki cite.