ASTM D5833-95e1
(Guide)Standard Guide for Source Reduction Reuse, Recycling, or Disposal of Steel Cans (Withdrawn 2004)
Standard Guide for Source Reduction Reuse, Recycling, or Disposal of Steel Cans (Withdrawn 2004)
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides general information to public officials and business and industry managers regarding the source reduction, reuse, recycling, or disposal of steel cans under 5-gal (wet) or 40-lb (dry) capacity. It presents a comprehensive overview of the steel can life cycle. Five- gallon pails and larger containers, up to 55-gal drums, will be in a separate guide due to their inherently different use and management when empty.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This guide provides general information to public officials and business and industry managers regarding the source reduction, reuse, recycling, or disposal of steel cans under 5-gal (wet) or 40-lb (dry) capacity. It presents a comprehensive overview of the steel can life cycle. Five gallon pails and larger containers, up to 55-gal drums, will be in a separate guide due to their inherently different use and management when empty.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee D10 on Packaging, this guide was withdrawn in December 2003 in accordance with section 10.6.3.1 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
e1
Designation: D 5833 – 95
Standard Guide for
Source Reduction Reuse, Recycling, or Disposal of Steel
Cans
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5833; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
e NOTE—Editorial changes were made throughout in March 1997.
1. Scope 4. Significance and Use
1.1 This guide provides general information to public offi- 4.1 This guide will familiarize public officials and business
cials and business and industry managers regarding the source and industry managers with source reduction, reuse, recycling,
reduction, reuse, recycling, or disposal of steel cans under or disposal of steel cans.
5-gal (wet) or 40-lb (dry) capacity. It presents a comprehensive
5. Typical Steel Can Container Applications
overview of the steel can life cycle. Fivegallon pails and larger
5.1 Food Cans—More than 90 % of metal food containers,
containers, up to 55-gal drums, will be in a separate guide due
to their inherently different use and management when empty. also known as sanitary cans, are made of steel (1). While they
have been commonly called “tin” cans, the tin coating on steel
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the sheet has become extremely thin as technology advanced. It
has been supplemented or replaced by other alternative coat-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- ings and treatments so that about one third of all steel cans are
now made with tin-free steel (2). Steel food cans contain many
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
types of food products, such as meat, fruit, vegetables, soup,
2. Referenced Documents
infant formula, and pet food. (See Fig. 1.)
2.1 ASTM Standards: 5.1.1 Single-Serving or Home-Use Container—Steel food
A 623 Specification for Tin Mill Products, General Require- cans vary in size and style, in accordance with product and
ments consumer requirements. Can size may range from a few ounces
D 5488 Terminology of Environmental Labeling of Pack- to the typical one-pound net weight container used in the home.
aging Materials and Packaging They are normally opened with an ordinary manual or electric
E 701 Method of Testing Municipal Ferrous Scrap can opener, but some have aluminum or steel easy-open lids for
E 702 Specification for Municipal Ferrous Scrap greater convenience to the consumer.
E 1134 Specification for Source Separated Steel Cans 5.1.2 Multi-Serving or Commercial/Institutional
Container—Steel food cans are widely used in business and
3. Summary of Guide
institutional food service facilities and food manufacturing
3.1 Steel can container applications are described, including plants. This includes 1-gal (#10) cans and oblong cans, such as
food, beverage, and general purpose. The processes for steel-
for olive oil.
making, steel sheet production, and steel can manufacturing are 5.2 Beverage Cans—Steel cans are widely used for juices
discussed. The methods of source reduction, reuse, recycling,
and other non-carbonated beverage applications. They may
or disposal of steel cans are explained. also be used for beer or soft drinks. (See Fig. 1.)
5.2.1 Single-Serving Container—Steel beverage cans vary
in size and style. The 6-oz juice can, commonly used for school
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-10 on Packagin-
lunches, has a foil peel-off closure on the lid, although some
gand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.19 on Recycling/
now have an all-steel stay-on tab.
Disposability.
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 1995. Published November 1995.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.06.
3 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09. The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.04. this guide.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 5833
6.2 Basic Oxygen-Furnace Production—About 60 % of the
steel produced in the United States in 1994 was made in the
basic oxygen furnace by the integrated mills (3). This highest-
quality steel is required for cans, appliances, automobiles, and
other flat-rolled steel products. Domestic mills use an average
of 75 % molten iron and 25 % scrap steel in the furnace charge.
Thus, this steel has about 25 % recycled content.
6.2.1 The basic oxygen process is very large in scale,
making 200 to 300 tons of steel per melt (batch) (4). Hot metal
(or molten iron) is first made separately in the blast furnace,
using iron ore, coke, and limestone. Then the basic oxygen
furnace is loaded with a charge of steel scrap and molten iron.
Limestone is also added as flux. An oxygen lance is lowered
into the furnace to blow oxygen onto the surface of the molten
iron. The blow of oxygen continues until the impurities and a
certain amount of carbon in the molten iron have been reduced
through oxidation and the desired composition of steel has
been made. These chemical reactions take place very rapidly so
the process is completed in about 20 min.
6.2.2 Due to technological limitations, the maximum
amount of scrap used relative to the hot metal is approximately
FIG. 1 Steel Container Applications
30 % in the basic oxygen furnace. Any higher percentage of
scrap would require supplemental energy to the chemical
reaction process (5). In 1994, the North American integrated
5.2.2 Multi-Serving or Commercial/Institutional
steel producers averaged more than 25 % total scrap steel use,
Container—Larger beverage containers, from 46 oz (#5) to 1
with about 10 to 15 % being obsolete scrap and the balance
gal (#10), are used for home, business, institutions, and food
manufacturing. from home scrap and prompt scrap.
5.3 General Purpose Cans—Steel cans have many non-
6.2.3 The modern method of continuous casting transforms
food and non-beverage applications, wet or dry, for the
the liquid steel into solidified semifinished steel. This is done
household, business, and industry. (See Fig. 1.)
by delivering the liquid steel in a ladle to the casting floor,
5.3.1 Single-Serving or Home-Use Container—Smaller
where it is poured into a special mold arrangement that allows
cans up to 1 gal are typical. Numerous styles and sizes of cans
the steel to flow and form directly into a red-hot continuous
are required because of the wide array of products and
ribbon of solidified steel which is cut automatically into
applications, including liquid products (such as paint), powders
specified slab lengths.
(such as talc), semisolids (such as paste wax), aerosols (such as
6.3 Manufacture of Can Sheet:
hair spray), and dry goods (such as adhesive bandages or roller
6.3.1 Steel slab destined for steel can application is rolled or
bearings). Many have replaceable lids that are pried off to open
flattened into an intermediate gage in the hot strip mill (6). The
the container. Aerosol cans are sealed and release product
hot band is then cleaned before going through a cold reduction
through a spray valve until empty.
mill to strengthen and form it into the desired sheet gage. It
5.3.2 Industrial or Commercial/Institutional Container—
then passes through an annealing furnace, which softens it in
Larger general purpose containers, including 5-gal pails and
preparation for other processing. The sheet steel, in the form of
steel drums of various capacities will be covered in a separate
very large coils (rolls), goes either to a temper mill for final
guide.
finish or to a double cold-reduction mill, where it becomes
6. Manufacture of Steel and Can Sheet for Steel Cans even thinner and stronger. Called“ black plate” up to now, the
single- or double-reduced product is ready for coating with tin
6.1 Scrap steel is used in making new steel in the basic
or chromium.
oxygen furnace, electric arc furnace, and foundry. Scrap steel is
6.3.2 As the steel goes through the coating line, it is washed
categorized as “home,” “prompt,” or “obsolete” scrap. Home
and cleaned. It is electroplated in a bath employing soluble tin
scrap is unsalable steel scrap generated from the steelmaking
anodes. If coated with tin, the steel sometimes is passed
process. It is “run-around” in the mill to be used as part of the
through a high-frequency induction or resistance heater. There,
scrap charge for future production. Prompt scrap is leftover or
unused scrap material from industrial fabricating processes, the tin melts and flows to form a lustrous coating that is cooled
in water, treated electrochemically, rinsed, then electrostati-
such as trimmings from steel can manufacturing. Obsolete
scrap is any product collected for scrap metal at the end of its cally coated with oil. Alternatively, the steel is electroplated in
a chromium bath, producing a burnished, darker finish, as with
useful life, such as major appliances, tools, automobiles,
construction and demolition salvage, and steel cans. Steel scrap a tuna can. Finally, the steel, tin-coated or tin-free, as described
in Specification A 623, is inspected, packaged, and shipped as
is collected, processed, and shipped to the closest melting
location. coils or flat cut sheets to the canmaking facility (7).
D 5833
6.4 Electric Arc-Furnace Production—In 1994, the remain- and diameter for varied can sizes and smaller production runs.
ing 40 % of domestic steel was produced in the electric arc Most cans are cylindrical; however, some have oblong or other
furnace by the so-called mini-mills (3). This steel is for heavy specialty configurations.
shapes, such as I-beam, channel, billet, rod, reinforcing bar, 7.3 About one fifth of all steel cans are two-piece cans made
nail, and wire. Some mini-mills are now making flat-rolled with either the draw-redraw (DRD) or the drawn and ironed
sheet for appliances, but are not capable of steel can and (D&I) process. The body and bottom are drawn from one piece
automotive applications. While the basic oxygen furnace of steel, so that the only seam is ultimately between the single
combines raw material and steel scrap to produce new steel, unit body and the separately made lid. More than 90 % of
electric arc furnaces are charged with virtually 100 % steel two-piece steel DRD cans are made of tin-free steel (2). All
scrap. Thus, this steel has almost 100 % recycled content. two-piece D&I cans are made from tin-coated steel. Tin-coated
Specific grades of steel scrap are selected and charged with steel may be used for lids for a shiny appearance and for bodies
small amounts of raw material into the furnace. Charging that will be subjected to a more corrosive product environment.
typically takes place through the furnace roof, which is lifted or In the DRD production process for food cans, a shallow cup is
swung aside. During the steelmaking process, three large produced from a flat circular blank that is punched or cut from
cylindrical electrodes are lowered through openings in the roof the can sheet. The diameter of the cup is reduced as the can is
to melt the steel scrap. Chemistry of the molten steel is verified deepened. In a similar manner, the D&I process is used for
so that adjustments may be made with the addition of needed food and beverage can bodies. The basic difference between a
elements. It is then continuously cast into slabs or other long DRD and D&I can is that the latter produces a thinner sidewall,
shapes (4). as the metal is stretched through elongation. Lids are formed
6.5 Foundry Production—While foundries use a variety of and then later crimped to the body after filling, as with
methods to melt steel scrap, their furnaces tend to be much three-piece cans.
smaller and more specialized than a steel mill’s furnace. 7.4 Beading is sometimes performed to add strength to the
Therefore, foundries may be more selective about the steel thinner-walled, modern can body, two-piece or three-piece.
scrap used for recycling and its preparation. As a source of Beads are grooves formed along the side of the container to
steel scrap, steel cans are made from a high grade of steel with stiffen the can body. Beading also improves label retention.
predictable chemical characteristics. The steel can’s very slight
8. Source Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, and Disposal of
tin content acts as an alloy in the casting process, thereby
Steel Cans
reducing a foundry’s dependency on other alloying agents. Tin
8.1 Source Reduction Options—Steel cans have been dra-
also promotes the end product’s pearlitic microstructure while
matically source reduced over the years since their original
improving its strength and hardness (8).
invention in the early 1800’s. The steel used in food cans was
7. Fabrication of Steel Cans
reduced 10 to 20 % in the years between 1980 and 1990 (9).
These reductions resulted from improvements in steel strength
7.1 Steel cans are fabricated from tin-coated or tin-free steel
and quality, creating cans with thinner walls that use less metal.
with three-piece or two-piece construction as shown in Fig. 2.
New can-making techniques also provide for the thinner wall
7.2 To produce three-piece cans, lids and bottoms are
construction. Source reduction also applies to the can manu-
punched from can sheet unwound from coil or from cut sheets.
facturing process itself. Because of increased efficiency in
(After being filled with holes, the sheet is called a “skeleton”
can-making technology, less prompt scrap is created. The
and sent to a detinning company or directly to a steel mill as
amount of tin used has also been reduced because of much
prompt scrap.) Can bodies are made by cutting can sheet into
thinner tin coatings and the use of tin-free steel.
the desired size and rolling it into a cylinder. The side seams
8.2 Reuse Options—Most steel cans, as covered by this
are joined by electric resistance welding at speeds higher than
guide, are for single-use application. Empty cans are inciden-
500 can bodies per minute. (Lead-soldered side seam construc-
tally used for home storage, for growing trees and plants, and
tion is no longer used in the United States.) The majority of
other similar reuse needs.
three-piece cans have tin-coated bodies, but may have either
8.3 Recycling Options—Steel cans are recycled through
tin-coated or tin-free steel ends, which are mechanically
various forms of collection, processing, and transportation to
crimped to the body during can
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