High-strength aluminum alloys for can end stock and methods for preparing the same

Abstract

Described herein are novel aluminum alloys including recycled aluminum alloy materials which exhibit high strength and high formability. The aluminum alloys described herein, which are suitable for use as can end stock, for example, exhibit high strength and formability despite having a lower Mg content than traditional AA5182 aluminum alloys used to produce can end stock. The present disclosure provides a cost-effective alternative to the use of AA5182 alloy for can end stock.

1 . An aluminum alloy comprising 0.10-0.35 wt. % Si, 0.20-0.60 wt. % Fe, 0.05-0.25 wt. % Cu, 0.25-1.20 wt. % Mn, 2.0-5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 0.20 wt. % Cr, up to 0.30 wt. % Zn, up to 0.20 wt. % Ti, up to 0.15 wt. % of impurities, and Al. 
     
     
         2 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , comprising 0.10-0.30 wt. % Si, 0.20-0.50 wt. % Fe, 0.05-0.25 wt. % Cu, 0.30-1.0 wt. % Mn, 2.2-5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 0.15 wt. % Cr, up to 0.30 wt. % Zn, up to 0.15 wt. % Ti, up to 0.15 wt. % of impurities, and Al. 
     
     
         3 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , comprising 0.10-0.25 wt. % Si, 0.20-0.50 wt. % Fe, 0.05-0.25 wt. % Cu, 0.30-0.90 wt. % Mn, 2.5-5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 0.10 wt. % Cr, up to 0.25 wt. % Zn, up to 0.10 wt. % Ti, up to 0.15 wt. % of impurities, and Al. 
     
     
         4 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , comprising 0.20-0.35 wt. % Si, 0.20-0.50 wt. % Fe, 0.05-0.25 wt. % Cu, 0.30-0.90 wt. % Mn, 2.5-5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 0.05 wt. % Cr, up to 0.25 wt. % Zn, up to 0.05 wt. % Ti, up to 0.15 wt. % of impurities, and Al. 
     
     
         5 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , comprising about 0.20-0.35 wt. % Si, 0.40-0.60 wt. % Fe, 0.15-0.25 wt. % Cu, 0.60-1.2 wt. % Mn, 2.0-4.0 wt. % Mg, up to 0.03 wt. % Cr, up to 0.20 wt. % Zn, up to 0.03 wt. % Ti, up to 0.15 wt. % impurities, and Al. 
     
     
         6 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of Mg:Cu is from 10:1 to 80:1 and wherein a ratio of Mn:Cu is from 2:1 to 15:1. 
     
     
         7 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of Mg:Cu is from 15:1 to 70:1 and wherein a ratio of Mn:Cu is from 3:1 to 12:1. 
     
     
         8 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , wherein a combined content of Fe and Si is greater than 0.40 wt. %, and wherein a combined content of Mg, Mn, and Cu is from 3.5 wt. % to 5.0 wt. %. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy comprises at least 40 wt. % of recycled scrap, and wherein the aluminum alloy comprises less than 30 wt. % of primary aluminum. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy has a propagation energy of at least 30.0 KJ/m 2  as measured by ASTM B871-1 (2021). 
     
     
         13 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the aluminum alloy has a yield strength of at least 340 MPa, wherein the aluminum alloy has an ultimate tensile strength of at least 380 MPa, and wherein the aluminum alloy has a total elongation of at least 4%. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A can end stock comprising the aluminum alloy of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A method of producing an aluminum alloy comprising:
 casting an aluminum alloy to form a cast product, wherein the aluminum alloy comprises 0.10-0.35 wt. % Si, 0.20-0.60 wt. % Fe, 0.05-0.25 wt. % Cu, 0.25-1.20 wt. % Mn, 2.0-5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 0.20 wt. % Cr, up to 0.30 wt. % Zn, up to 0.20 wt. % Ti, up to 0.15 wt. % of impurities, and Al;   homogenizing the cast product;   hot rolling the cast product to produce a hot rolled product;   cold rolling the hot rolled product to produce a final gauge rolled product; and   optionally annealing the final gauge rolled product.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising lacquering and curing the final gauge rolled product. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the homogenization step comprises a first homogenization step and a second homogenization step. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first homogenization step comprises soaking the cast product at a temperature from 375° C. to 450° C. for 0.5 hours to 5 hours. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second homogenization step comprises soaking the cast product at a temperature from 450° C. to 550° C. for 0.01 hours to 5 hours. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the aluminum alloy comprises 0.10-0.25 wt. % Si, 0.20-0.50 wt. % Fe, 0.05-0.25 wt. % Cu, 0.30-0.90 wt. % Mn, 2.5-5.0 wt. % Mg, up to 0.10 wt. % Cr, up to 0.25 wt. % Zn, up to 0.10 wt. % Ti, up to 0.15 wt. % of impurities, and Al. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a ratio of Mg:Cu is from 15:1 to 70:1 and wherein a ratio of Mn:Cu is from 3:1 to 12:1. 
     
     
         24 . A metal product, wherein the metal product is prepared by a method comprising  claim 17 , wherein the metal product is can end stock. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled)