Application of Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis to Investigate Corrosion Problems in Plain Tinplate Food Cans and Examine Glass and Glass-Like Particles Found in Canned Food

Scanning Electro n Mic roscopy (SEM) and X· ray Mic ro· analys is (EOS) have been used to investigate product conwinc r interaction problems in plai n tinplate metal food containers and to examine glass and glass-like particles that we re found in canned food . Through the usc o f SEMEDS. it wa~ detemlined that: sulfa te contain ing panicles from the cannery cooling water reacted with exposed iron or tiniron alloy on the tinplate surface causing an ex terna l ruMing problem: sul fur diox ide was responsible for a conwi nc r d iscolora tion and n pitting corros ion problem in canned fruit nec ta r : hydrogen sulfide produced from the S02· tinp l;ttc reactio n was the cause of an assoc ia ted off·odor problem: copper. poss ibly from a side scam welding opera· tion. excessive headspacc mtygcn and a bead ing defect on the conwi nc r body wall helped ex pla in a dctinn ing and piuing cor· 10~ion problem in canned fr ic.:d appies. A quantitati ve SEM EDS method was used to mca~urc the compos it ion of glass pa rti cles in two alleged product tamper· ing case~ involving canned food . Glass· like particles from a tomato powder and can ned peas we re also examined . In it ial pape r r ece ived Ju ly 05, 1988 Manu sc rip t r eceive d November 25, 1988 Direc t inqu i r ies to J.E. Char bonneau Telep hone nu mb e r : 202 639 5972 Kc ~· \-\ "or ds : Scanning Electron Mic roscopy . X· ray Micro· analysis. Tinplate Food Cans, External Rusting . Inte rnal Can Corros ion. Glass. Glass· like Particles. Product Tamper ing.