Aluminum Impact Extrusion Slug Specifications

Aluminum Impact Extrusion Slug Specifications

A critical step in the manufacturing of many aluminum products, including containers, is the impact extrusion process.aluminum impact extrusion slug specifications This method uses a metal slug—also known as a blank or a puck—which is struck with a punch in a die cavity at high velocity to force the material into a specific shape and position instantly. It’s one of the fastest ways to achieve near-net shape for a part or container, but it’s also one of the most challenging because it requires precision dimensions and uniform metal flow to ensure quality and reliability.

To meet these demands, slugs must be free of imperfections that could damage the finished product or cause downtime in production.aluminum impact extrusion slug specifications This is why it’s crucial to invest in an impact extrusion slug specification system that monitors each individual slug for alloy consistency, dimensional accuracy and surface finish before the process starts.

This enables the slug to perform at its best, eliminating jammed feeders and extrusion defects that can cost you big money in downtime and quality issues.aluminum impact extrusion slug specifications It’s vital that every slug is a perfect twin of the next to minimize scrap, reduce jams in the feed system and guarantee consistent diameter, thickness and weight. With this level of quality control in place, your slugs will be a much easier fit for the extrusion process and your customers will reap the benefits of higher strength at lower container weights, which are a necessity in today’s economy.

Among the advantages of impact extrusion is that it’s a very versatile production process. It can be used for a wide range of products, including pump components, pressure vessels, drive components, air conditioning parts and gas tank connectors. It’s also commonly found in packaging and household items, like food and beverage cans, cartridges and tubes of all shapes and sizes.

While there are a variety of methods for shaping metal into a shaped product, the impact extrusion process is often considered the best choice for achieving a high level of performance with a minimal amount of raw material. It offers a greater level of corrosion resistance and ductility than other methods of shaping metal, while also allowing for thinner walls and lighter finished products.

In the present invention, a novel recycled aluminum alloy composition is provided for use in the manufacture of a metallic slug intended to be used in an impact extrusion process to form a shaped container. The slug is manufactured by a process that involves a forming process, a punching process, and an impact extrusion process.

After the slug is formed into a desired shape by the forming process, it undergoes an impact extrusion process 204. The lubricated slug is placed in a cemented carbide die of precise shape and impacted with extreme force by a punch to form a shaped container.

After the slug is punched, it may be heated to recrystallize the grains and ideally form a homogeneous, equiaxed grain structure. This can be accomplished by batch annealing 138 or continuous annealing 140. The rapid heating, limited time at elevated temperature and fast cooling in the continuous anneal enables significantly reduced oxide formation on the surface of the slug. This significantly decreases the rate of scratches in the impact extrusion process and in the resulting impact extruded containers, which is a common source of quality defects.

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