Aluminum Company of America

Alcoa Inc.

Scott L Palmer

Robert E Sanders, Jr

W Bryan Steverson

Stephen F Baumann

Lyndon Morgan

Marilyn Daly

The present invention relates to an improved method of producing an aluminum alloy sheet which, in one embodiment, includes roll casting an aluminum alloy strip having a thickness of less than about 0.5 inch and, subsequently, preferably without intervening thermal treatments or surface cleaning, cold rolling the strip to a thickness of less than about 0.15 inch, after which the cold rolled strip is subjected to thermal treatment which is preferably either continuous annealing or solution heat treatment. The aluminum alloy, in a continuous annealing embodiment, is preferably selected from the group consisting of the 3XXX and 5XXX series. In another embodiment wherein solution heat treatment is employed, the aluminum alloy is preferably selected from the group consisting of 2XXX and 6XXX. The sheet may be converted into a motor vehicle body panel.

Method of producing aluminum alloy sheet for automotive applications

The present invention relates to an improved method of producing aluminum alloy can body stock and can end stock which are particularly suitable for use in manufacturing aluminum alloy can bodies and ends for can bodies. The method for can body stock includes roll casting an aluminum alloy strip having a thickness of less than about 1 to 5 mm and, subsequently, batch annealing the strip, followed by cold rolling, continuous annealing, quenching and cold rolling to desired gauge. The aluminum alloy sheets may then be employed in manufacturing aluminum alloy can bodies. The process produces aluminum alloy sheet having an improved combination strength and caring properties with acceptable surface characteristics. Unique aluminum alloys usable in the claimed processes are also disclosed. In another embodiment, can ends are made by roll casting, followed by cold rolling preferably without prior thermal treatment, continuous annealing, quenching and cold rolling to the desired gauge.

Method of making aluminum can body stock and end stock from roll cast

A method of producing aluminum can sheet having high strength and low earing characteristics comprises providing an aluminum alloy ingot and then hot rolling the ingot in a single-stand hot reversing mill to produce a first intermediate gauge sheet. The first intermediate gauge sheet is then cold rolled to produce a second intermediate gauge sheet. This second intermediate gauge sheet is passed through a heat source as a single web so that the second intermediate gauge sheet is continuously annealed. After heating, the second intermediate gauge sheet is quenched and coiled again. Finally, the coiled second intermediate gauge sheet is cold rolled again to produce the final gauge aluminum can sheet having high strength and low earing characteristics.

Method of producing aluminum can sheet having high strength and low

A method of producing aluminum can sheet having low earing characteristics. An aluminum alloy ingot is provided and is heated to a temperature between about 527.degree. to 571.degree. C. (980.degree. to 1060.degree. F.). After this, the ingot is hot rolled in a single-stand reversible hot mill to produce an intermediate gauge sheet. The intermediate gauge sheet is then cold rolled to produce a final gauge aluminum can sheet having low eating characteristics.

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Ravenswood, WV, United States of America

Scott L Palmer