Abstract:
Disclosed is a method of making an improved aluminum alloy coated sheet stock useful for fabricating into easy-open ends for beverage containers. The method comprises the steps of providing a body of an aluminum base alloy consisting essentially of, by weight, 4. 0 to 5. 5% Mg, 0. 2 to 0. 7% Mn, 0. 05 to 0. 40% Cu, the balance being aluminum, incidental elements and impurities and rolling the body to produce an aluminum sheet stock. The sheet stock is subjected to a structure refining operation to precipitate finally divided magnesium containing constituent and thereafter the sheet stock is coated with an organic coating material and cured at a temperature sufficiently low and for a period of time to avoid dissolving the precipitated constituent to provide coated sheet stock having improved levels of tensile strength and high levels of formability.