Soft drink manufacturers’ one best-kept open secret is the use of a hidden plastic liner inside every aluminium soda or beverage can in the world. For decades now, soft drink makers have been relying on the hidden liner of plastic epoxy on the inside of the can to ensure that the acids in the beverage don’t erode the can or don’t leech aluminium into the beverage itself while also maintaining the taste and safety of the beverage. Speaking of which, a recent viral video that reveals the hidden plastic lining has now left the internet amazed.
While the people in the beverage industry and researchers are already aware of this practice, a large section of the public still remains oblivious to this fact. A social media user influencer in his latest experiment managed to dissolve the aluminium foil of a soft drink can and revealed the transparent plastic coating. As the video plays, the influencer, Adithya Nataraj begins by using sandpaper to remove the outer paint of the can and then puts it in a beaker containing a heavy-duty drain cleaner. In just a matter of minutes, the can gets completely dissolved and the metal disappears. One can see the transparent plastic coating left behind.
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While sharing the video of his experiment, the user also cautioned his followers about the use of microplastics and other toxic substances in the container, that can affect their health negatively. He also explains the science behind it stating that soft drink cans are made with aluminium alloy and the drain cleaner is a solution of Sodium Hydroxide, which reacts to produce a lot of heat and dissolves the aluminium without affecting the plastic layer.
In the meantime, the video also sparked a lot of reactions with many sharing divided views. While a user wrote, “The reason is because coke (and really any carbonated drink) is acidic and acid can react with metal (in this case aluminum) to form hydrogen and a salt. Therefore the plastic is to prevent that from happening. The drain cleaner is also acidic thats why you clear off the paint coating from the can to reveal the aluminium. It’s not microplastics, it’s in fact safer for you,” another one commented, “Forget microplastics I’d be worried about the sugar.”
“Thanks to you for letting us know about this,” a third user wrote.
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