5xxx aluminium sheets for can making

Abstract

The invention concerns a 5xxx series aluminium sheet made of an alloy comprising in wt. %: Mg: 2.5-4.0, Mn: 0.7-1.2, Fe: 0.25-0.55, Si: 0.20-0.50, Cu: 0.10-0.25, Cr: up to 0.1, Zn: up to 0.25, Ti: up to 0.1, rest aluminium and unavoidable impurities up to 0.05 each and up to 0.15 in total. The method for producing the 5xxx series aluminium sheet of the invention comprises the steps of casting an ingot with a composition according to the invention, pre-heating the ingot, rough hot rolling on a reversible mill with a rough hot rolling entry temperature of more than 440° C., finish hot rolling the ingot with a hot rolling exit temperature of at least 300° C., cold rolling to obtain a cold rolled sheet. The invention also concerns a can end and a beverage can.

1 . A 5xxx series aluminum sheet made of an alloy comprising in wt. %:
 Mg: 2.50-4.00,   Mn: 0.70-1.20,   Fe: 0.25-0.55,   Si: 0.20-0.50,   Cu 0.10-0.25,   Cr up to 0.10,   Zn up to 0.25,   Ti up to 0.10,   rest aluminum and unavoidable impurities up to 0.05 each and up to 0.15 in total.   
     
     
         2 . The 5xxx series aluminum sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein the Mg content is from 2.50 wt. % to 3.85 wt. %, optionally from 3.10 wt. % to 3.85 wt. %, optionally from 3.10 wt. % to 3.65 wt. %. 
     
     
         3 . The 5xxx series aluminum sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein the Mn content is from 0.90 wt. % to 1.10 wt. %. 
     
     
         4 . The 5xxx series aluminum sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein the Cr content is from 0.01 wt. % to 0.03 wt. 
     
     
         5 . The 5xxx series aluminum sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein for a Fe content of at least 0.50 wt. %, the sum Mg+7.9 Mn is at most 11.4 wt. %, optionally at most 10.7 wt. % and optionally at most 10.1 wt. %, for a Fe content of at least 0.44 wt. % and less than 0.50 wt. %, the sum Mg+7.9 Mn is at most 12.1 wt. %, optionally at most 11.4 wt. % and optionally at most 10.8 wt. %, for a Fe content of at least 0.40 wt. % and less than 0.44 wt. %, the sum Mg+7.9 Mn is at most 12.5 wt. %, optionally at most 11.8 wt. % and optionally at most 11.2 wt. %, for a Fe content of at least 0.35 wt. % and less than 0.40 wt. %, the sum Mg+7.9 Mn is at most 12.8 wt. %, optionally at most 12.1 wt. % and optionally at most 11.5 wt. %, for a Fe content of at least 0.30 wt. % and less than 0.35 wt. %, the sum Mg+7.9 Mn is at most 13.1 wt. %, optionally at most 12.4 wt. % and optionally at most 11.8 wt. %, for a Fe content of at least 0.25 wt. % and less than 0.30 wt. %, the sum Mg+7.9 Mn is at most 13.5 wt. % optionally at most 12.8 wt. % and optionally at most 12.2 wt. %. 
     
     
         6 . The 5xxx series aluminum sheet according to  claim 1 , which is coated and optionally in a H48 temper. 
     
     
         7 . The 5xxx series sheet according to  claim 1 , which has a tensile yield strength (TYS) of less than or equal to 360 MPa. 
     
     
         8 . A method for producing a 5xxx series aluminum sheet according to  claim 1 , comprising successively
 casting said ingot,   pre-heating the ingot optionally at a temperature from 440° C. to 550° C.,   rough hot rolling the ingot on a reversible mill with a rough hot rolling entry temperature of more than 440° C.,   finish hot rolling the ingot with a hot rolling exit temperature of at least 300° C.,   cold rolling to obtain a cold rolled sheet,   optionally coating the cold rolled sheet.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the liquid metal contains more than about 50 wt. % recycled scrap. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the recycled scrap contains more than about 50 wt. % used beverage can scrap. 
     
     
         11 . A can end obtained from a sheet according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A beverage can obtained from a can end according to  claim 11  and a can body made of a AA3xxx alloy, optionally an alloy selected from AA3002, AA3102, AA3003, AA3103, AA3103 A, AA3103B, AA3203, AA3403, AA3004, AA3004A, AA3104, AA3204, AA3304, AA3005, AA3005A, AA3105, AA3105A, AA3105B, AA3007, AA3107, AA3207, AA3207A, AA3307, AA3009, AA3010, AA3110, AA3011, AA3012, AA3012A, AA3013, AA3014, AA3015, AA3016, AA3017, AA3019, AA3020, AA3021, AA3025, AA3026, AA3030, AA3130, and AA3065, optionally selected from AA3004, AA3004A and AA3104.