Abstract: A can end is formed from a metal sheet having adhered thereto a coating of a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyester film. The can end comprises a central panel, a panel wall dependent from the periphery of the centre panel, an annular countersink bead extending outwardly from the panel wall, a chuck wall extending upwardly from the periphery of the countersink bead and an annular seaming panel extending radially from the chuck wall. The metal sheet comprises an aluminum alloy having a magnesium content between 0.8% and 2.0% by weight and manganese content between 0.6% and 1.5% by weight; the polyester coating has a crystallinity factor in the range 0.05 to 0.5 measured by X-ray diffraction; and the distance between the chuck wall and panel wall is between 0.85 mm and 1.0 mm as measured at a height of 0.45 mm above the lowest part of the upper surface of the countersink bead.

Abstract: A laminate and a process for making a laminate of aluminum or aluminum alloy and a polyester. The process includes forming a laminate by contacting an aluminum or aluminum alloy sheet or foil with a film of polyester at a temperature and pressure sufficient to adhere the film to the sheet or foil, reheating the laminate to a temperature above the crystalline melting point of the polyester, cooling the laminate at a cooling rate controlled to prevent crystallization of the polyester, and quenching in water such that the molecular weight of the polyester layers in the laminate is between 14,000 and 23,000.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a laminate of metal and a polymeric film such as polypropylene bonded to a metal substrate such as steel or aluminum strip, preferably electrolytically chromium coated steel for making can ends, comprises laminating a polypropylene film to the metal and subjecting the film to a temperature above its melting point, and then uniformly and rapidly cooling the laminate to a temperature substantially below the melting point of the polypropylene by flooding the polypropylene coated surface of the laminate with cold liquid, e.g., water at room temperature.

Abstract: In a method of drawing and wall ironing a can body, a blank (1) is cut from a laminate of aluminium or alloy and a polyester film. The blank is lubricated and drawn to a cup (7) having a side wall (8), which is then wall ironed. A terminal margin (14) of the side wall (13) of the wall ironed can is heated to a temperature above 100.degree. C. but below the crystalline melting point of the polyester film in order to prevent delamination of the polyester film from the side wall of the can during subsequent washing of the can. A benefit of the process is that the heating of the side wall margin (14) does not soften the aluminium or aluminium alloy body.

Abstract: A wall ironing ring (8, 11, 14) for use in cooperation with a punch (1) to reduce the thickness of a sidewall of a cup (17) drawn from a laminate of a polyester film and sheet aluminum or sheet aluminum alloy has a frusto conical entry surface (24) to the ring which converges at an angle between 1.degree. and 4.degree. to a central axis perpendicular to the plane of the ring and terminates at a land of short length, measured at said axis; and divergent exit surface extends from said land at an angle in the range from 5.degree. to 15.degree.. The ironing ring may be made from a material having a thermal conductivity greater than 50 W/m.degree.C. used in cooperation with a like ring of smaller land diameter held apart from the first ring by a spacer (7) in which coolant is applied to the cup.

Abstract: A laminated metal sheet, the metal sheet having adhered on at least one major surface thereof a film of a non-crystalline polyester, and a process for the preparation thereof. The laminated metal sheet is particularly useful for forming into drawn and wall ironed (DWI) cans. The laminate is also useful for forming other non-retorted packaging components.

Abstract: A laminated metal sheet, the metal sheet having adhered on at least one of its major surfaces a composite film comprising:(A1) an inner layer of a thermoplastic polymer incorporating a white pigment and a toner for compensating for the natural color of the metal sheet, and(B1) an outer layer of a thermoplastic polymer incorporating a white pigment, the concentration of white pigment in layer (B1) being lower than the concentration of white pigment in layer (A1).The laminated metal sheet of the invention is useful for forming into containers or various components thereof.

Abstract: A laminated metal sheet, the metal sheet having adhered on at least one major surface thereof a film of a non-crystalline polyester, and a process for the preparation thereof. The laminated metal sheet is particularly useful for forming into drawn and wall ironed (DWI) cans. The laminate is also useful for forming other non-retorted packaging components.

Abstract: A laminated metal sheet having adhered to one of its major surfaces a composite co-extruded polyolefin-containing film (B) comprising a plurality of layers in the following order:(B1) an inner layer of a bonding resin which is an acid modified polyolefin resin containing carboxyl or anhydride groups,(B2) a layer of a polyamide, the thickness of the layer being not greater than 9 microns,(B3) a further layer of a bonding resin which is as defined for layer (B1), and(B4) a layer of a polyolefin.The laminates of the invention are useful for forming with containers or various components therefor.

Abstract: A process for producing by simultaneous lamination a polymer/metal/polymer laminate, which process comprises(i) simultaneously laminating to each of the major surfaces of a metal sheet a composite polyester film (A) comprising an inner layer (A1) of a substantially non-crystalline linear polyester having a softening point (Ts-A1) below 200.degree. C. and a melting point (Tm-A1) above 150.degree. C. and below 250.degree. C. and an outer layer (A2) of a biaxially oriented linear polyester having a crystallinity greater than 30% and having a melting point (Tm-A2) above 250.degree. C., the metal sheet having been heated to a temperature T.sub.

Abstract: An electro-magnetic induction heater has a heating coil which defines a throat through which a metal strip (moving towards a plastics film laminating station) passes thereby to be heated to a laminating temperature. The coil turns are flexible, and are braced at spaced positions in braces which are mounted for movement towards and away from the metal strip. Each brace has an associated adjustment means. The positions of the respective braces are adjusted during heating, preferably automatically, so as to adapt the coil throat shape to the varying cross section (and/or other characteristics) of the strip to be heated, thereby to ensure uniform temperature distribution across the width of the strip. Under automatic control each adjustment means is operated in closed loop manner by associated actuating means in response to deviation from a reference level of a sensed temperature signal provided by an associated sensor positioned adjacent the emergent heated strip.

Abstract: In a laminated material comprising a polyolefin-based film bonded to a metal sheet (M), the polyolefin-based film is a multi-layer co-extruded film comprising an inner layer (B2) of a bonding resin which is an acid-modified polyolefin resin containing carboxyl or anhydride groups and an outer layer (B1) of a polyolefin or polyamide containing 0.15% to 0.5% by weight of a finely divided non-reactive low-opacity synthetic silica having an average particle size on the range 0.5 to 5 microns. Another thermoplastic film (A1,A2), such as a biaxially oriented polyester film, may be simultaneously laminated to the other surface of the metal sheet. The lamination process involves heating the laminated material to effect bonding and then quenching the laminated material rapidly and uniformly from above the melting point of the polyolefin to below its softening point.

Abstract: A process for producing by simultaneous lamination a polymer/metal/polymer laminate, which process comprises laminating to one of the major surfaces of a metal sheet a composite polyester film (A) comprising an inner layer (A1) of a substantially non-crystalline linear polyester having a softening point below 150.degree. C. and a melting point above 150.degree. C. but below 240.degree. C. and an outer layer (A2) of a linear polyester having a melting point above 220.degree. C., and simultaneously laminating to the other major surface of the metal sheet a polyolefin-containing film (B) comprising a bonding resin which is an acid modified polyolefin-resin containing carboxyl or anhydride groups, the metal sheet having been heated to a temperature T.sub.1 sufficient to cause softening of the polymer films and intimate contact with the metal sheet, the temperature T.sub.

Abstract: A metal can end (10) has a metal pull tab (16) attached to a score-defined detachable portion (15) of the can end by direct welding of protective polymer coatings (19,20) whose surfaces at least are derived from the same monomer and which are provided on the upper side of the can and the under side of a shank portion (18) of the pull tab. The coatings may be composite films each comprising an inner layer of a bonding resin and an outer layer of a polyolefin, polyamide or polyester. The welding may be effected by heat or preferably by ultrasonic energy.

Abstract: A laminated metal sheet having adhered to one of its major surfaces a composite co-extruded polyolefin-containing film (B) comprising a plurality of layers in the following order:(B1) an inner layer of a bonding resin which is an acid modified polyolefin resin containing carboxyl or anhydride groups,(B2) a layer of a polyolefin,(B3) a further layer of a bonding resin which is as defined for layer (B1), and(B4) a layer of a polyamide.The laminates of the invention are useful for forming into containers or various components therefor.

Abstract: A metal can end with a one-piece tear-open closure of a polymeric material (e.g. a polyolefin or polyamide) moulded thereon so as to fill an aperture therein and to form a rim surrounding the aperture on the underside and a pull tab lying against the upper side of the can end, wherein the underside of the can end has a coating of a polymeric material bonded to the polymeric material of the rim and the upper side has a coating whose outer surface is of a different polymeric material which will not bond to the polymeric material of the closure, the materials of the coatings being chosen to be capable of being laminated simultaneously to the metal of the can end, e.g. by the use of bonding resins such as an acid-modified polyolefin resin.

Abstract: In the vapor deposition of tin on to a surface such as a polymeric film (3) to be used for packaging, a dispersion of titanium hydride (17) in a dispersant is applied to the interior surface of an evaporation boat (9) and the dispersant is evaporated before the boat is used to vaporize tin metal under vacuum for the purpose of metallizing the surface.

Abstract: A metal surface, particularly a tinplate surface of a can for canned food, is treated by contact with a solution containing a zirconium compound, particularly ammonium zirconium carbonate or zirconium acetate. An inorganic salt may also be present in the solution. The concentration of the zirconium compound, calculated as ZrO.sub.2, is in the range between 0.1 and 10% w/w. The surface is thereafter heated to a temperature in the range between 20.degree. and 300.degree. C. until it is dry. The surface may be cleaned prior to contact with the solution. In this way a coating is provided on the surface which improves the stain resistance of the surface.

Abstract: The use of magnesium azelate as a new rusting inhibitor in metal paints is described. The preferred inhibitor is a mixture of magnesium azelate and a basic oxide e.g. magnesium oxide in the proportion of 3:1 to 10:1 by weight. The new formulations are substitutes for lead oxide or zinc chromate primers and confer excellent protection on iron and steel.

Abstract: The use of magnesium azelate as a new rusting inhibitor in metal paints is described. The preferred inhibitor is a mixture of magnesium azelate and a basic oxide e.g. magnesium oxide in the proportion of 3 : 1 to 10 : 1 by weight. The new formulations are substitutes for lead oxide or zinc chromate primers and confer excellent protection on iron and steel.