Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Aluminium is used in a variety of goods, mostly due to its low density, good corrosion resistance, aesthetics and recyclability. Ball Advanced Aluminium Technologies produces aluminium slugs that are impact extruded to produce packaging supplies like aerosol cans. Ball is fully engaged to provide to his clients green and sustainable aluminium products by sourcing recycled aluminium as well as low-carbon primary aluminium from Quebec. The quality of the aluminium cans and bottles depends on the mechanical properties (yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, ductility, etc) of the aluminium alloy. In order to manufacture slugs that can reliably be formed into pressure-resistant aerosol cans, a precise and optimized process has to be used. An important part of the process is the heat treatment of the slugs to obtain microstructure and properties that are adequate to extrude them in form of cans. Therefore, Ball wants to study the effect of the heat treatment parameters on the extrudability of the slugs and properties of the cans. That project will lead to a greater use of recycled aluminium and less rejected parts, along with an increase in productivity.