Does the tab of an aluminum can have more aluminum that the can itself?!?

Question

I made a bet with my friend that there is more aluminum in a beer can than the tab alone.. anyone know for sure?!

Answer 1

how can there be more in 1 part of it than there is in the whole thing?

Answer 2

It takes 53 Type I silver tabs to equal the weight of your normal 12 ounce aluminum can

Answer 3

My best answer ratio fell 2% just for answering fun questions, so I'm glad to keep up the trend :)

A can weighs more than a tab. The tab appears thicker, but seems to be 'kinda hollow'.

1,000 tabs would weigh less than 1,000 cans.

But, are they composed of the same 'grade' of aluminum? Aluminum is a metalurgical mixture of, what boxite and tin? I don't recall.

A trash can full of tabs would weigh more than a trash can full of cans.

Those are my thoughts scattered by just as many tabs as cans... three each to be exact :)

Answer 4

i understand what you mean, and if you weight both, your answer is pretty obvious..

Answer 5

hopefully this can help you:

" Most aluminum cans are used to produce sheet aluminum for making new cans. The sheet aluminum plant receives bales of used cans. These are melted down, and lacquered labels burn off in the process.

Can tops are made of an alloy containing a higher ratio of magnesium than the alloy used for the body of the can. As a result, the molten aluminum derived from complete cans has too little magnesium for new tops, and too much for new bodies. New aluminum or scrap low in magnesium is therefore added to the batch. This brings the level of magnesium down until it is suitable. The resulting aluminum is rolled into sheets that are used by can makers to fabricate new can bodies.

Sheet aluminum is thicker than the wall of a finished can. During the process of making a can, the aluminum is stretched much thinner. The process begins by punching circular sections out of the sheet. The resulting aluminum disks are pressed into cup shape. The walls of these cups are elongated by an "ironing" process: round, heated machinery spreads the aluminum upwards much as a rolling pin will expand the area of a pie crust.

The thickness of a finished can is not uniform, however. The bottom and the upper rim are thicker. When the can is of sufficient height, the top is trimmed level and clean. A concave dome is pressed into the bottom, and the upper rim is angled inwards then partially flanged outwards. A label is lacquered onto the outside surface and the inside is coated to prevent corrosion and preserve taste.

Tops are also made from sheet aluminum, though its thickness and the alloy are slightly different from the sheet used for can bodies. Also, the anti-corrosive coating will already be on this sheet when disks are punched out. This is possible because tops retain their original thickness instead of being pressed wider and thinner. The edges are curled where the tops will attach to the flanged upper rim of the can, and a button is pressed into its center. The button serves as an attachment for the tab, which will later be used to pop open the can. The edges of that potential opening are pressed very thin before the tab is attached. "