Aluminum foil (also spelled aluminium foil) is aluminum prepared in thin metal leafs, with a thickness less than 0.2 mm / 0.008 in, although much thinner gauges down to 0.006 mm are commonly used. The foil is extremely pliable, and can be bent or wrapped around objects with ease. However, thin foils are fragile and easily damaged, and are often laminated to other materials such as plastics or paper to make them more useful. It replaced tin foil in the mid 20th century, but is often still referred to as "tin foil".
It is easily molded, conducts heat well, can withstand temperature extremes and used to cover foods for cooking and storage.