Low-earing can stock

Claim 2

The method of claim 2 in which said hot rolling includes passing said slab through a multistand continuous hot mill to produce said reroll stock.

Claim 3

The method of claim 3 in which said hot rolling is completed at a metal temperature of approximately 550* F.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 which includes annealing said reroll stock prior to cold rolling.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 including a plurality of cold rolling passes.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 in which said cold rolling is effective to produce work hardened sheet of substantially -H19 temper.

Claim 7

In the art of rolling aluminum, including hot rolling the metal into coilable reroll stock, the method which comprises: commencing said hot rolling at a selected temperature above 950* F., continuing in successive stages to a reroll thickness on the order of 0.1 inch without reheating the metal between stages; said hot rolling being effective for preconditioning the metal structure of said reroll stock whereby subsequent cold rolling produces work hardened sheet of improved ductility in -H19 temper, compared to sheet made in the same manner except for initially hot rolling the metal at a lower temperature in the range from 50* to 300* F. below the selected hot rolling temperature.

Claim 8

Aluminum reroll stock made by the method of claim 8.

Claim 9

In the art of rolling aluminum, including casting the metal and hot rolling the metal casting, the method which comprises: commencing said hot rolling above 950* F. at a metal temperature effective for preconditioning its plastic flow characteristic in work hardened temper; continuing to reduce the metal thickness as the hot rolling operation proceeds to an intermediate coilable thickness; and cold rolling the metal from said intermediate thickness into sheet having a thickness of about 0.005-0.020 inch, said sheet being adapted for drawing in its work hardened condition with less than 5% earing (45*).

Claim 10

The method of claim 10 including preheating the metal casting at about 1,025*-1,075* F.

Claim 11

The method of claim 10 wherein said cold rolling provides a reduction in thickness of at least 80%.

Claim 12

The method of claim 10 including a forming operation which comprises drawing the sheet in its work hardened condition without annealing the metal following said cold rolling.

Claim 13

In the art of rolling aluminum, including hot rolling an aluminum ingot to break down its cast structure and cold rolling the metal from an intermediate reroll thickness into sheet, the method of making cold rolled sheet of improved ductility which comprises: commencing said hot rolling at an ingot temperature above 950* F.; continuing from the initial ingot thickness to said intermediate reroll thickness in successive stages as the hot rolling operation proceeds; annealing the metal at a reroll thickness on the order of 0.1 inch; and cold rolling the metal from said reroll thickness to produce work hardened sheet of substantially -H19 temper.