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Food Grade Anodized Aluminum

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2002

I am designing a container that will be used to hold pharmaceutical pills, typically aspirin. I would like the material to be lighter and cheaper than stainless steel. I have made prototypes of 6061 aluminum with a sulfuric anodize Type II finish (clear). Is this suitable for contact with the aspirin? Should I use Type III hardcoat? Are there any standards (perhaps FDA) that I should review?

Thanks,

Steve Rose
- Minneapolis, Minnesota

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2002

Steve,

I don't personally know of any such regulations but letters 10881 and 12047 both discussed FDA approval of anodize. If I recall correctly, aspirin mixed with water is fairly acidic -- you may want to consider the polymer coating used on soda cans (see letter 12170).

Jim Gorsich
Accurate Anodizing Inc.

Compton, California, USA