Rigid containers made of 28-gage and lighter sheet metal plate. The metal may be either aluminum, tinplate, tinfree steel, blackplate, or any combination of these metals. The cans may be round, square, oblong, pear-shaped, open-top, or double seamed ends. They have a variety of closures, such as snap on caps, screwcaps, spout closures, and friction plugs. Several types may be provided with handles when specified. These cans are air-tight, dustproof, and watervaporproof

Cans meeting the requirements of PPP-C-96 are capable of handling a wide range of contents. Types I, II, III, IV, and VII, Class 2, may be used for the methods of preservation 45 and 55 as prescribed by MIL-STD-2073-1C. In addition to items packaged for unit protection, other commodities such as foodstuffs, liquids, powders, pastes, and materials which are dispersed under pressure, may be canned also.