Removing beverage can UV-coating???

mastercraft

Hello everyone,
I would like to know how can I remove UV-coating of beverage can?
I'm a plastic modeler and I need the aluminum sheet to make some parts
for my models. Sanding method is not an option for me because it damages
aluminum and then I need to polish it which involves great deal of effort not to
ruin the sheet for further usage. So that asks for some kind of solvent to remove the coating.
I read somewhere that chloroform could be the solution
for me and I wonder if that is true. Also, could it be that formic acid may remove it?

chemisttree

I believe that coating is highly crosslinked epoxy. It was designed to be impervious to the dilute phosphoric acid or citric acid present in soft drinks. Formic won't do it without attacking the aluminum as well. I don't know if the chloroform will swell it but acetone just might do it.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ch...oxy-d_786.html

mastercraft

Acetone is no use for this problem. I've tried it already.

chill_factor

use a solution of strong liquid soap dissolved 1:2 in a 5:3:2 of toluene, acetone and ethanol?

i use this sort of solution for washing polymer coated glassware, works every time. it quite easily separates the polymer from the glass while swelling it. let it soak and scrub it (gloves on) for a while, then wash with water and scrub again.

i do not know if it will work for aluminum.

mastercraft

Thank you for your answer chill_factor. In the mean time I managed to remove protective
coating from soda cans with strong paint remover, some Italian brand RR. It is based on
formic acid. I just smeared it on can and after 20 minutes I scrubed it away with some plastic brush. Also can be used a steel wool which could be even better. This leaves a perfect shine aluminum surface.

chemisttree

So, which rust remover did you use?

mastercraft

I couldn't find it on internet so here's the photo.
Paint remover, scrubing wire and a sheet of aluminum cut out of soda/beer can.
I believe that paint remover is based on formic acid cause years ago I used
some other product which was based on formic acid and it had specific odour.
This one has the same smell but is in form of gelatine, the previous was in
liquid state.

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