Control of Earing in Deep Drawing of Roll-Cast AA3003 Aluminium Sheets

Abstract

The effect of different parameters during thermo-mechanical processing on the earing behavior of AA3003 aluminum sheets has been investigated. These were homogenization of the cast strip, cold rolling, intermediate and final annealing of the sheets at different gauges. The amount of 0/90° earing formed on annealing decreased with cold rolling prior to annealing. Nevertheless, annealing after partial deformation gave rise to large amounts of 0 to 90° ears to balance subsequent ±45° earing. Homogenization prior to cold rolling resulted in a fine dispersoid distribution which, in turn, increased the tendency for 0/90° earing. All of these observations were consistent with textural studies in which cube and rolling textures were competing to produce positive and negative earing, respectively. It is concluded that the "non-earing" quality in the present material could be obtained by proper combination of processing variables such as; homogenization, cold reduction, and annealing cycles.