PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ALUMINUM ALLOY CAN BODY STOCK

摘要

A process of manufacturing aluminum can body stock involving the following steps. A molten aluminum alloy is prepared, the alloy containing Mg in the range 1.1 to 1.5 % by weight, Mn in the range 0.4 to 0.9 % by weight, Cu in the range 0.2 to 0.4 % by weight, Fe in the range 0.2 to 0.7 % by weight, Si in the range 0.07 to 0.3 % by weight, all other elements each less than 0.05 % by weight to a maximum of 0.2 % for all other elements. The alloy is cast in a continuous strip casting process to produce a slab having a thickness of at least 9 mm. The slab is rolled using at least 83 % reduction to produce a re - roll strip. The re-roll strip is coiled to form a coil and the coil to cool is allowed to cool naturally. The re-roll strip is then annealed and cold rolle d to a final gauge of between 0.26 and 0.4 mm, using a reduction of between 75 and 85 %, with no interanneal. The resulting strip can be used as can body stock having a 45 degree earing of less than 3 % and a yield strength after stoving of at least 265 MPa (38.5 ksi).