ISO 11949:2016

Overview - ISO 11949:2016 (Cold‑reduced electrolytic tinplate)

ISO 11949:2016 specifies requirements for single and double cold‑reduced low‑carbon mild steel electrolytic tinplate supplied as sheets or coils. The standard covers nominal thickness ranges (single: 0.150–0.600 mm; double: 0.100–0.360 mm) and applies to coils and cut sheets with nominal minimum rolling widths of 600 mm (500 mm by agreement). It defines product characteristics, manufacturing features, testing and inspection, and delivery documentation for electrolytic tinplate.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Product scope and designation
  • Single and double cold‑reduced tinplate identified by steel grade, annealing type and coating details.
• Thickness and width limits
  • Thickness increments generally in multiples of 0.005 mm; nominal minimum rolling width 600 mm (or 500 mm by agreement).
• Manufacturing features
  • Definitions and requirements for cold reduction, annealing methods (batch/box annealed BA and continuously annealed CA), temper rolling and finishes.
• Surface finishes
  • Classified as bright, stone, silver or matt depending on temper‑mill roll texture and whether the tin coating is flow‑melted.
• Tin coating mass
  • Requirements and measurement methods for tin coating mass and differential coating (one side heavier than the other).
• Mechanical and performance properties
  • Hardness and tensile property requirements (Rockwell/Tensile specifications referenced); routine tests such as springback for proof strength.
• Dimensional tolerances and shape
  • Tolerances on thickness, width, length, feather edge, flatness, edge camber and bow.
• Inspection, sampling and test methods
  • Sampling, testing and retest procedures; specific test methods for tin coating mass, hardness and tensile tests are referenced.
• Marking, packaging and dispatch
  • Requirements for marking differentially coated material, inspection documents and packing.

Practical applications and users

ISO 11949:2016 is used by:

• Steel producers and tinplate mills to specify production, inspection and delivery of electrolytic tinplate.
• Purchasers and specifiers (manufacturers using tinplate for further processing) to define required gauge, finish, coating mass and mechanical properties.
• Quality & testing laboratories that perform hardness, tensile and coating mass measurements and verify conformity.
• Converters and fabricators who cut, form or lacquer tinplate sheets and coils and require clear acceptance criteria.

Typical applications include any industry requiring consistent, coated mild steel sheet or coil for further processing (packaging, lacquering, forming), where tight control of coating and mechanical properties is essential.

Related standards

• ISO 11951 (cold‑reduced blackplate for tinplate production)
• ISO 404 (general technical delivery conditions)
• ISO 6508‑1 (Rockwell hardness test)
• ISO 6892‑1 (tensile testing)
• ISO 10474 (inspection documents)
• ISO 4288, ISO/TR 9769 (surface texture and analysis methods)

Keywords: ISO 11949:2016, electrolytic tinplate, cold‑reduced tinplate, tin coating mass, tinplate sheets, tinplate coils, tinplate standards, tinplate specifications.