Identifying a Roll of Foil

A

Alden Sherrodd

Joined
Oct 12, 2004
Messages
241
This seems like a foolish question, but here goes. I found a roll of foil in my Father's shop(my Dad died two years ago) that he had been given, by a man that worked in a lab at an aluminum company. For the life of me, with cursory examination, I cannot tell if it is aluminum or stainless steel. Of course it has no markings, it is .002" thick, is pretty stiff, non magnetic, and sharp. If no one can give me any other ideas, I will put some in my heat treat oven and see if it melts in the 1200 degree range, or survives to a much higher temp.
If this is stainless I will be set for life for heat treat foil. If it is aluminum I guess I'll figure out some use for it. The roll weighs somewhere around 22lbs.

I would have thought I could look at it and tell what it is, but have not been around heat treat foil and have not had any experience with aluminum in this thickness range. Help! ?

Thanks
Alden
 
you can do an acid test to see if its aluminum. if you have some of "the works" it will cause aluminum to smoke and turn black when a few drops are applied. aluminum that thin wont be too stiff but from what you are saying i would say its stainless.
 
Thanks Richard, I thought there is probably a test like this. I don't know what you mean by "the works". I have some muratic acid and will give it a try.
Thanks again.
Alden
 
its a brand name bathroom cleaner. i dont think muratic acid will do the same thing. i'll see if i have any of the works and let you know exactly what acid it is. its hydrochloric acid. be careful and do it outside since heat and smoke will be generated. you only need a few drops to get a reaction.
 
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Al will react with either an acid or alkaline solution ! Put some drain cleaner on it .Al is white color and SS is more gray.
 
If you have a propane torch just heat up a small piece of the foil. If its stainless steel the heat won't bother it. If its aluminum it should just burn up. No need for acid.
 
Thanks for all of the replies. I made a small dish from it and put in some muratic acid, it took a couple of minutes to get going, but it fizzed and turned black. I tried some known aluminum in a small dish of the acid and then a folded up piece of the unknown, they both fizzed and turned black. So it evidently is aluminum.:( Maybe it is alloyed to be a little stiffer, it just doesn't act like aluminum I've experienced. I had my hopes up that being from their lab it was stainless even though their business is aluminum. I guess it will work for trays in the BBQ. :)
Thank for your suggestions.
Alden
 
I just went back out and tried Ray's suggestion, with the propane torch it just melted down flat and wrinkled.
Thanks
Alden
 
richard j said:
its a brand name bathroom cleaner.
i dont think muratic acid will do the same thing.

its hydrochloric acid.
be careful and do it outside since heat and smoke will be generated. you only need a few drops to get a reaction.
Click to expand...

Just for the record,
Hydrochloric and Muriatic are different names for the same thing.
 
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