Alcoa Inc.

Aluminum Company of America

Joseph D Guthrie

Robert E Bombalski

Sallie L Blake

David S Bennett

Thomas L Levendusky

Jean Ann Skiles

Daniel L Serafin

Clinton Zediak

Gary A Nitowski

Kenneth A Bowman

Albert L Askin

Luis Fanor Vega

Kevin M Robare

Alfred M Dennis

Paul B Schultz

Joseph P Harenski

George T Gregory

Bob Larsen

Jaskirat Sohi

Wilson C Lee

David L Serafin

Daniel C Johnson

Aluminum alloy products comprising an aluminum alloy base and a sulfate-phosphate oxide zone integral therewith are disclosed. Methods of making the same are also disclosed.

Corrosion resistant aluminum alloy substrates and methods of producing the same

A process for making a metal-polymer composites suitable for shaping into container end panels having improved resistance to feathering and angel hair formation. A polymer coating is applied to a metal sheet. The polymer coating includes at least one cured polymer selected from polyolefins, anhydride modified polyolefins, epoxies, and phenoxies. The polymer coating on the composite is then irradiated with an electron beam, thereby scissioning chains in the cured polymer. The metal sheet preferably comprises an aluminum alloy and the polymer coating preferably comprises maleic anhydride modified polyropylene.

Process for making a metal-polymer composite having an irradiated polymer coating

A printing plate for computer-to plate lithography having a laser-ablatable member supported by a substrate. At least one portion of the laser-ablatable member is formed form an acrylic polymer containing laser-sensitive particles. The laser-sensitive particles absorb imaging radiation and cause the portion of the laser-ablatable member containing the laser sensitive particles and any overlying layers to be ablated.

Printing Plate

A lithographic sheet product having a substrate with a roll textured surface covered by a pretreatment layer. The pretreatment layer enhances adhesion of a printing composition to the sheet product and is composed of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers of acrylic acid, polymers of methacrylic acid, an organophosphorous polymer and copolymers of an organophosphorous compound and acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. Dopant particles of alumina, silica, titanium dioxide or a black dye or pigment may be added to the pretreatment layer to reduce the gloss and reflectance of the pretreatment layer in a printing process. Etching of the substrate also reduces gloss and reflectance.

Pretreated sheet product for lithographic plates

Printing plate

A process for making printing plate material suitable for imaging by laser radiation. A metal substrate is electrocoated in a bath containing a polymeric resin and laser-sensitive particles, thereby depositing a laser ablatable layer on a principal surface of the metal substrate. In one embodiment, the laser-ablatable layer is treated with a corona discharge for a time sufficient to render the layer non-ink wettable. In other preferred embodiments, the laser-ablatable layer is overcoated with an overlayer such as a non-ink wettable silicone layer or a water-wettable layer comprising an organophosphorus polymer, preferably a copolymer of acrylic acid and vinylphosphonic acid.

Printing plate material with electrocoated layer

A process for making lithographic sheet material suitable for imaging by laser radiation. A metal substrate is electrocoated in a bath containing a polymeric resin and laser-sensitive particles, thereby depositing a laser ablatable layer on a principal surface of the metal substrate. In one embodiment, the laser-ablatable layer is treated with a corona discharge for a time sufficient to render the layer non-ink wettable. In other preferred embodiments, the laser-ablatable layer is overcoated with an overlayer such as a non-ink wettable silicone layer or a water-wettable layer comprising an organophosphorus polymer, preferably a copolymer of acrylic acid and vinylphosphonic.

Electrocoating process for making lithographic sheet material

Aluminum alloy sheet is provided with a primer layer comprising a reaction product of aluminum oxide or hydroxide and a vinylphosphonic acid-acrylic acid copolymer, coated with a polymer coating composition containing polyvinyl chloride or an epoxy. The polymer coated aluminum alloy sheet is shaped into container bodies for food containers or container end panels for aluminum food and beverage containers.

Copolymer primer for aluminum alloy food and beverage containers

An aluminum alloy substrate is pretreated with an aqueous solution containing an organophosphorus compound, preferably a vinyiphosphonic acid-acrylic acid copolymer, before coating the substrate with a polymer. Passing the substrate through the solution contaminates it with aluminum and other elements. The pretreatment solution is rejuvenated by removing aluminum with a cation exchange resin that preferably contains a styrene-divinyl benzene copolymer functionalized with sulfonate groups. Rinsing the substrate contaminates the rinse water with the copolymer. The rinse water is concentrated by reverse osmosis or membrane ultrafiltration and returned to the pretreatment solution.

Coating an aluminum alloy substrate

A method for cleaning and modifying the surface of aluminum container sheet to make improved food can bodies and/or beverage can ends therefrom. The lowering of magnesium levels on an aluminum oxide surface and through the oxide-metal interface of this sheet, and deposition of at least some phosphorus-containing complex thereon produces container sheet that exhibits improved corrosion performance. The method comprises contacting said container sheet for less than about 20 seconds with a cleaner which preferably includes: about 1.0-10.0 wt. % (10.0-100.0 g/L) of sodium carbonate; about 0.1-2.5 wt. % (1.0-25.0 g/L) of sodium hydroxide, said cleaner including a total carbonate and hydroxide concentration in excess of about 3.0 wt. % (30.0 g/L); about 0.1-2.5 wt. % (1.0-25.0 g/L) of sodium gluconate; about 0.1-2.0 wt. % (1.0-20.0 g/L) of a compound containing 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (or 'HEDP'); and about 0.05-1.0 wt. % (0.5-10.0 g/L) of an alkylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol-based surfactant, the balance water and incidental impurities.

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Murrysville, PA, United States of America

Joseph D Guthrie