CN-117222528-B - Laminated can end blank

Abstract

Provided herein are an aluminum can end blank (CES) and a method for producing CES. The CES includes a laminated metal strip having a polymeric film coating and advantageously exhibiting low feathering, low fuzzing, and high abrasion resistance. The laminated metal strip may include a laminated polymer coating on the outwardly facing side and a painted coating on the inwardly facing side. The CES is formed by laminating a polymer film to one side of the metal strip and annealing the laminated metal strip. In some cases, the polymer film laminated to the metal strip is a colorable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film.

Inventors

• J-T. Pape
• C. Tussin
• B. Fengzweil
• M. Mangels
• C. SCHROEDER

Assignees

• 诺维尔里斯公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20220413

Priority Date

20210422

Claims (18)

1. 1. A process for preparing a can end blank, the process comprising: preheating the metal strip to a first temperature below 250 ℃; Laminating a polymeric film comprising a colorant to a first side of the metal strip to produce a laminated metal strip, wherein the first side of the metal strip corresponds to an outwardly facing side of a can end formed from the metal strip, and the colorant is selected from the group consisting of carbon black and titanium dioxide; Applying a paint layer to a second side of the metal strip, wherein the second side of the metal strip corresponds to an inwardly facing side of a can end formed from the metal strip, and the paint comprises an epoxy-based solution, a polyester solution, or a combination thereof, and The laminated metal strip is annealed at an annealing temperature, wherein the annealing temperature is greater than 175 ℃.
2. 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the metal strip is an aluminum strip.
3. 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer film comprises a polyethylene terephthalate film.
4. 4. The process of claim 1, further comprising applying an adhesive coating to the metal strip, wherein laminating the polymer film to the first side of the metal strip comprises laminating the polymer film to the adhesive coating.
5. 5. The process of claim 1, wherein the annealing temperature is greater than 225 ℃.
6. 6. The process of claim 1, wherein the annealing temperature is less than 300 ℃.
7. 7. The process of claim 1, further comprising cooling the laminated metal strip after annealing the laminated metal strip.
8. 8. The process of claim 1, further comprising applying a lubricant to the laminated metal strip after annealing the laminated metal strip.
9. 9. A can end stock product prepared according to the process of claim 1.
10. 10. The can end stock product of claim 9 wherein the first side of the metal strip corresponds to an outwardly facing side of the can end stock product.
11. 11. The can end stock product of claim 9 wherein the polymer film has a thickness of less than 150 μιη.
12. 12. A beverage can comprising a can body and an end, wherein the end is formed from a can end blank prepared according to the process of claim 1.
13. 13. A system, the system comprising: The preheating furnace is used for receiving the metal strips and preheating the metal strips to a preheating temperature; A lamination system positioned downstream of the preheating furnace for receiving the metal strip at the preheating temperature and applying a polymeric film to a first side of the metal strip, wherein the first side of the metal strip corresponds to an outwardly facing side of a can end formed from the metal strip, wherein the polymeric film comprises a colorant selected from the group consisting of carbon black and titanium dioxide; A paint application system for applying a paint layer to a second side of the metal strip, wherein the paint comprises an epoxy-based solution, a polyester solution, or a combination thereof, and An annealing oven positioned downstream of the laminating system for receiving a laminated metal strip and heating the laminated metal strip at an annealing temperature, wherein the annealing temperature is greater than 200 ℃.
14. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the metal strip is an aluminum strip.
15. 15. The system of claim 13, further comprising an adhesive coating application system for applying an adhesive coating to the metal strip, wherein the lamination system is configured to apply the polymer film to the adhesive coating.
16. 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the lamination system is coupled to a polyethylene terephthalate film supply.
17. 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the annealing temperature is greater than 225 ℃.
18. 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the annealing temperature is less than 300 ℃.

Description

Laminated can end blank Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. application Ser. No. 63/178,323 filed on 22, 4, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to metal processing and, more particularly, to laminated metal strips suitable for use as can end stock and the production thereof. Background Some metal products, such as aluminum beverage cans, may require a protective layer between the metal and its contents or otherwise benefit from such a protective layer. For example, beverage cans often must provide adequate protection between the metal of the beverage can and the beverage contained therein to avoid damage to the metal by the hard beverage (such as soda and cola) and to avoid adverse effects on the beverage (such as discoloration or taste changes). Furthermore, metal products may benefit from a protective layer between the metal and the external environment. For example, a protective layer on the exterior of the beverage can may protect the beverage can from abrasion or other damage during the manufacturing process. A protective layer on the outside of the beverage can may also be necessary or beneficial for applying an external design on the beverage can. There is generally a requirement for a protective layer to be placed on both the inner and outer surfaces of the metal product. For example, the protective layer must adhere sufficiently to the metal product. As a further example, on the outer surface, the protective layer must generally exhibit uniform color, abrasion resistance, proper opening behavior after lamination, and proper general behavior during final manufacture. Conventional protective layers, such as lacquers, have been found to exhibit insufficient wear resistance. It has also been found that the previously attempted alternatives to conventional protective layers exhibit undesirable fuzzing and feathering. Furthermore, conventional protective layers exhibit inadequate adhesion to metal products and require expensive and time-consuming production processes. Therefore, the conventional protective layer is ineffective. Disclosure of Invention In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a process for preparing a can end blank comprising preheating a metal strip to a first temperature below 250 ℃, laminating a polymer film to a first side of the metal strip to produce a laminated metal strip, wherein the first side of the metal strip corresponds to an outwardly facing side of a can end formed from the metal strip, and annealing the laminated metal strip at an annealing temperature, wherein the annealing temperature is greater than 175 ℃. In some cases, the metal strip is an aluminum strip. In some cases, the polymer film comprises a polyethylene terephthalate film. In some cases, the process further comprises applying an adhesion coating to the metal strip, wherein laminating the polymer film to the first side of the metal strip comprises laminating the polymer film to the adhesion coating. In some cases, the polymer film comprises a colorant. In some cases, the colorant is selected from the group consisting of carbon black and titanium dioxide. In some cases, the process further includes applying a paint layer to a second side of the metal strip, wherein the second side of the metal strip corresponds to an inwardly facing side of a can end formed from the metal strip. In some cases, the lacquer comprises an epoxy-based solution, a polyester solution, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the annealing temperature is greater than 225 ℃. In some cases, the annealing temperature is less than 300 ℃. In some cases, the process further includes cooling the laminated metal strip after annealing the laminated metal strip. In some cases, the process further includes applying a lubricant to the laminated metal strip after annealing the laminated metal strip. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a can end blank product prepared according to the process described herein. In some cases, the first side of the metal strip corresponds to an outwardly facing side of the can end stock product. In some cases, the polymer film has a thickness of less than 150 μm. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a beverage can comprising a can body and an end, wherein the end is formed from a can end blank prepared by any of the foregoing exemplified processes. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a system comprising a preheating furnace for receiving a metal strip and preheating the metal strip to a preheating temperature, a lamination system positioned downstream of the preheating furnace for receiving the metal strip at the preheating temperature and applying a polymer film to a first side of the metal strip, wherein the first side of the metal strip corresponds to an outwardly facing side of a can end formed from