Method and composition for recycling aluminum containers

Abstract

The present disclosure provides improved processes and compositions for continuously casting aluminum alloys. The resulting aluminum alloy sheet is useful for container body stock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aluminum alloy composition comprising:
 a) from about 0.7 wt. % to about 1.2 wt. % manganese;   b) from about 1.5 wt. % to about 2 wt. % magnesium; and   c) aluminum.   
     
     
         2 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from about 0.8 wt. % to about 0.9 wt. % manganese. 
     
     
         3 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , comprising from about 1.55 wt. % to about 1.65 wt. % magnesium. 
     
     
         4 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising from about 0.2 wt. % to about 0.6 wt. % copper. 
     
     
         5 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising from about 0.25 wt. % to about 0.35 wt. % copper. 
     
     
         6 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising from about 0.28 wt. % to about 0.45 wt. % iron. 
     
     
         7 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising from about 0.3 wt. % to about 0.4 wt. % iron. 
     
     
         8 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 0.3 wt. % silicon. 
     
     
         9 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , further comprising from about 0.15 wt. % to about 0.25 wt. % silicon. 
     
     
         10 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , consisting essentially of:
 a) manganese in an amount from about 0.7 wt. % to about 1.2 wt. %;   b) magnesium in an amount from about 1.5 wt. % to about 2 wt. %;   c) copper in amount from about 0.20 wt. % to about 0.60 wt. %;   d) iron in an amount from about 0.28 wt. % to about 0.45 wt. %;   e) silicon in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 0.25 wt. %; and   the balance of the alloy composition consisting essentially of aluminum and incidental additional materials and impurities, wherein the incidental additional materials and impurities are limited to about 0.05 wt. % each, and the sum total of all incidental additional materials and impurities does not exceed about 0.15 wt. %.   
     
     
         11 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , consisting essentially of:
 a) manganese in an amount from about 0.8 wt. % to about 0.9 wt. %;   b) magnesium in an amount from about 1.55 wt. % to about 1.65 wt. %;   c) copper in an amount from about 0.25 wt. % to about 0.35 wt. %;   d) iron in an amount from about 0.3 wt. % to about 0.4 wt. %;   e) silicon in an amount from about 0.15 wt. % to about 0.25 wt. %; and   the balance of the alloy composition consisting essentially of aluminum and incidental additional materials and impurities, wherein the incidental additional materials and impurities are limited to about 0.05 wt. % each, and the sum total of all incidental additional materials and impurities does not exceed about 0.15 wt. %.   
     
     
         12 . A process for producing aluminum alloy sheet, comprising:
 a) hot rolling continuous cast aluminum alloy comprising from about 0.75 wt. % to about 1.2 wt. % manganese and from about 1.5 wt. % to about 2 wt. % magnesium;   b) hot mill annealing the continuous cast aluminum alloy;   c) intermediate annealing the continuous cast aluminum alloy; and   d) stabilize annealing the continuous cast aluminum alloy to form aluminum alloy sheet.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the hot rolling of the continuous cast aluminum alloy is conducted in the absence of heating of the continuous cast aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12 , further comprising cold rolling the continuous cast aluminum alloy in one or two passes between the steps of hot mill annealing and intermediate annealing. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 12 , further comprising cold rolling the continuous cast aluminum alloy in one or two passes between the steps of intermediate annealing and stabilize annealing. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the aluminum alloy sheet has physical properties useful for container body stock. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the aluminum alloy comprises from about 0.8 wt. % to about 0.9 wt. % manganese. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the aluminum alloy comprises from about 1.55 wt. % to about 1.65 wt. % magnesium. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the aluminum alloy comprises from about 0.2 wt. % to about 0.6 wt. % copper. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the aluminum alloy comprises from about 0.25 wt. % to about 0.35 wt. % copper. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the aluminum alloy comprises from about 0.28 wt. % to about 0.45 wt. % iron. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the aluminum alloy comprises from about 0.3 wt. % to about 0.4 wt. % iron. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the aluminum alloy comprises from about 0.1 wt. % to about 0.3 wt. % silicon. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the aluminum alloy comprises from about 0.15 wt. % to about 0.25 wt. % silicon. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the aluminum alloy consists essentially of:
 a) manganese in an amount from about 0.7 wt. % to about 1.2 wt. %;   b) magnesium in an amount from about 1.5 wt. % to about 2 wt. %;   c) copper in amount from about 0.20 wt. % to about 0.60 wt. %;   d) iron in an amount from about 0.28 wt. % to about 0.45 wt. %;   e) silicon in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 0.25 wt. %; and
 the balance of the alloy composition consisting essentially of aluminum and incidental additional materials and impurities, wherein the incidental additional materials and impurities are limited to about 0.05 wt. % each, and the sum total of all incidental additional materials and impurities does not exceed about 0.15 wt. %. 
   
     
     
         26 . The aluminum alloy of  claim 1 , consisting essentially of:
 a) manganese in an amount from about 0.8 wt. % to about 0.9 wt. %;   b) magnesium in an amount from about 1.55 wt. % to about 1.65 wt. %;   c) copper in an amount from about 0.25 wt. % to about 0.35 wt. %;   d) iron in an amount from about 0.3 wt. % to about 0.4 wt. %;   e) silicon in an amount from about 0.15 wt. % to about 0.25 wt. %; and
 the balance of the alloy composition consisting essentially of aluminum and incidental additional materials and impurities, wherein the incidental additional materials and impurities are limited to about 0.05 wt. % each, and the sum total of all incidental additional materials and impurities does not exceed about 0.15 wt. %. 
   
     
     
         27 . A process for producing aluminum alloy sheet, comprising:
 a) hot rolling continuous cast aluminum alloy in the absence of heating of the continuous cast aluminum alloy, wherein the alloy comprises manganese in an amount from about 0.7 wt. % to about 1.2 wt. %, magnesium in an amount from about 1.5 wt. % to about 2 wt. %, copper in amount from about 0.20 wt. % to about 0.60 wt. %, iron in an amount from about 0.28 wt. % to about 0.45 wt. %, silicon in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 0.25 wt. %, and the balance of the alloy composition consisting essentially of aluminum and incidental additional materials and impurities, wherein the incidental additional materials and impurities are limited to about 0.05 wt. % each, and the sum total of all incidental additional materials and impurities does not exceed about 0.15 wt. %;   b) hot mill annealing the continuous cast aluminum alloy;   c) cold rolling the continuous cast aluminum alloy in one or two passes;   d) intermediate annealing the continuous cast aluminum alloy;   e) cold rolling the continuous cast aluminum alloy in one or two passes; and   f) stabilize annealing the continuous cast aluminum alloy to form aluminum alloy sheet.