Grain refining of Al-Si alloys using Al-10% Ti master alloy: role of Zr addition

The present study was carried out on ultra-pure aluminum, 1050, and 356 alloys. The results revealed that when Al-4%B is added to ultra-pure aluminum, it forms AlB₁₂ and AlB₂ which have no grain refining effect in pure aluminum. When no grain refiner is added to pure aluminum, the microstructure is a mixture of columnar and equiaxed grains. The addition of 30 ppm Ti to pure aluminum is sufficient to promote equiaxed grains when the metal is solidified at high rate ~ 10°C/s but requires an addition of 1000 ppm B at 0.8°C. Increasing the Si content to 7% reduces the initial grain size of pure aluminum from 2800 μm to 1200 μm. In commercial aluminum, B reacts with traces of Ti to form TiB₂ phases which are active grain refining agents. However, in Al-7%Si, Ti reacts with Si forming (Al,Si)₂Ti phase which is a poor refining agent.     

Quality assessment of aluminum-based grain refining master alloys

1. IntroductionThe improvement of the properties of aluminumproducts is still a real problem in the theory and practiceof foundry. It can be solved by different methods includinggrain refinement, which is considered to be one of themost effective, simple and reliable methods. A grain refineris known to contain numerous high-melting particles,which are released after the aluminum matrix dissolves ina melt and subsequently act as heterogeneous nuclei oncooling. It provides a fine equiaxed grain …     

A new development of Al-Ti-C grain refining master alloys

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Correlation of recalescence with grain refinement of magnesium alloys

The grain refinement of Mg-Al based alloys with carbon inoculation was investigated by a computer-aided cooling curve analysis(CA-CCA) system.The results show that carbon inoculation decreases the main parameters of the recalescence regime during the initial stage of solidification.These parameters include the recalescence undercooling(Δθ_(rec)),duration of recalescence (t_(rec)),and liquid peak parameter(LPP) which is firstly introduced into magnesium alloys.The resultant grain size decreases with incre...     

Hereditary effect of Al-based modifiers and grain refiners on structure and properties of A356.2 alloys

The hereditary effect of Al-Ti, Al-Ti-B, Al-Sr master alloys on the structure and properties of A356.2 alloys was investigated, and comparison analysis between the master alloys used in the foundry industry and the fine-crystalline grain refiners produced by technologies of Samara State Technical University was conducted. The results show that less than 0.5% additions of FCR master alloys can promote 8%-20% in the elongation of as-cast A356.2 alloys. FCR additives are more efficient in comparison with conventional grain refiners and modifiers. Their effectiveness depends on their genetic effect of their finer structures.     

Fe对Al-Ti-B和Al-Ti-C中间合金细化纯铝时晶粒形核与生长行为的影响

分别用Al-Ti-B、Al-Ti-C两种中间合金细化不同Fe含量(w(Fe)=0.2%～1.0%)的铝。通过扫描电镜观察异质形核晶粒核心及围绕核心所形成的晕圈,分析晶粒形核及生长过程。结果表明,两种中间合金加入铝熔体后释放出的TiB2和TiC颗粒都能吸附熔体中的Ti,形成围绕TiB2和TiC颗粒的Ti浓度梯度场。围绕TiB2和TiC颗粒团的晕圈形状存在差异:围绕TiB2颗粒团的晕圈基本为圆形,围绕TiC颗粒团的晕圈基本为花瓣状。在Fe元素存在的条件下,由于晕圈之间的融合以及晶粒核心颗粒不同造成的晕圈形状差异对晶粒的生长方式有重要影响。在晕圈形状相同的条件下,Fe含量对晶粒生长行为影响显著,随着Fe含量增加,晶粒的树枝化程度变大。     

Effect of A1P master alloy on grain refinement of primary silicon in eutectic Al-Si alloys

To obtain the finer primary silicon crystals, the proprietary Al-P master alloy was adopted to modify the eutectic Al-Si alloys and the most suitable modification process was made in the experiments. The SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimeter) analysis indicate that the Al-P modifier has more advantages over Cu-P and Fe-P modifier in easily addition, no elemental alteration and less undercooling of primary silicon's solidification, which suggests the Al-P master alloy is an effective modifier of eutectic Al-Si alloys.     

近共晶Al-Si合金的晶粒细化

研究了Al-Sr变质剂和锆复合盐细化剂对高近共晶Al-Si合金宏观/微观组织的影响.结果表明:单一Al-Sr变质剂的加入,不仅改变了共晶硅的形貌,同时对合金的组织也有较明显的细化作用.这可能是由于锶的加入,改变了液态金属的结构,导致枝晶尖端前沿生长过冷度增加,降低了枝晶α(Al)固液界面能.当Al-Sr变质剂和锆复合盐细化剂共同作用时,随着熔体中锆含量的增加,铸锭的晶粒度显著减小,当熔体的锆含量超过0.35%,可获得细小、分布均匀的等轴晶,其宏观晶粒尺寸为100～120 μm.与Al-Zr中间合金相比,无论是细化效果还是抗衰退的能力都优于中间合金.     

铸态亚共晶Al-Si合金中初生硅的生长机制(英文)

利用光学显微镜和电子背散射衍射技术观察亚共晶Al-10%Si合金的微观结构特征。结果表明,在亚共晶合金内很容易发现初生硅颗粒。研究亚共晶Al-10%Si合金溶液中初生硅析出过程中的晶核形成和生长机制,发现硅原子容易偏析并形成Si-Si簇,即使在共晶和亚共晶合金内,这一现象也会导致初生硅的形成。另外,由化学驱动力和较大的堆积碰撞或溶质的凝固偏析等原因引起的溶质再分配在初生硅的形成过程中也起着重要的作用,其中溶质再分配方程由Jackson-Chalmers方程推导而出。一旦硅溶质浓度超过共晶成分,在固/液界面的前端就会析出初生硅。     

Al-Ti-C中间合金对Mg-Al合金的晶粒细化作用

制备了一种用于Mg-Al合金晶粒细化的Al-Ti-C中间合金。发现该Al-Ti-C中间合金可以有效地细化镁合金的晶粒，细化后的AZ61合金的抗腐蚀性能大大提高。分析认为，Al-Ti-C中间合金中起晶粒细化作用的是Al4C3和TiC的复合相。     

化学法对有色金属及合金晶粒细化的研究进展

凝固过程中获得细小均匀的等轴晶组织既可以提高材料的强度和硬度,又可以提高其塑性和韧性。晶粒细化是改善铸件质量和后续加工性能的重要途径,化学晶粒细化法由于在细化过程中操作简单,无需改进实验设备,细化效果良好受到科研工作者的重视。结合作者采用化学法对铝及铝合金、纯镍和纯锡晶粒细化的研究工作,综述几种典型有色金属及合金的晶粒细化剂及细化效果,并总结国内外关于化学法细化晶粒的经典理论。最后,总结并展望了化学法细化有色金属及合金的发展趋势。     

Assessment of modification level of hypoeu- tectic Al-Si alloys by pattern recognition of cooling curves

1 Introduction Due to their excellent castability and good mechanical properties, Al-Si alloys are the most important and most widely used casting aluminum alloys. A further increase in mechanical properties can be achieved by means of a modification treatment with Na or Sr. Without this treatment, the eutectic silicon crystallises into an acicular or lamellar morphology with poor properties; when a modifying element is added, it becomes a very fine and fibrous silicon network resulting in a…     

A novel fading-resistant Al-3Ti-3B grain refiner for Al-Si alloys

Al-Ti-B refiners with excess-Ti perform adequately for wrought aluminum alloys but inefficiently in the case of foundry alloys. The high content of silicon in the latter, which forms silicides with Ti and severely impairs the refining potency of the nuclei, is known to be responsible for the poor performance. Hence, new grain refiners, such as Al-3B and Al-3Ti-3B master alloys with excess-B have been developed with well documented advantages for Al-Si alloys. It is very desirable to involve TiAl₃ particles in the Al-3Ti-3B master alloy to maximize its grain refining efficiency. However, fading phenomenon is a key drawback for application of the TiAl₃-containing refiners in aluminum foundry. In the present work, new Al-3Ti-3B grain refiners, containing TiB₂, AlB₁₂ and TiAl₃ particles were developed with an aim to prolong the acting time after inoculation. The results showed that inoculation of Al-7Si alloy with thus meliorated Al-3Ti-3B grain refiner has produced a fine grain structure which was approximately maintained up to 30 min.     

Rapidly solidified hypereutectic Al-Si alloys prepared by powder hot extrusion

Rapidly solidified hypereutectic Al-Si alloys were prepared by powder hot extrusion.By eliminating vacuum degassing procedure.the fabrication routine was simplified.The tensile fracture mechanisms at room temperature and elevated temperature were investigated by SEM fractography.Compared with KS282 casting material,the tensile strength of rapidly solidified Al-Si alloy is greatly improved due to silicon particles refining while its density and coefficient of thermal expansion are lower.than those of KS282.The wear resistance of RS AlSi is better than that of KS282.     

Mg对Al-Ti-B、Al-Ti-C中间合金细化铝晶粒效果的影响

试验研究了Mg对Al-5Ti-1B和Al-5Ti-0.2C两种中间合金细化铝晶粒效果的影响,分析了Mg影响两种中间合金细化铝晶粒行为的机制。结果表明,在w(Mg)=1%～7%的范围内,镁含量的增加,对两种中间合金细化铝晶粒的促进作用不显著,但对晶粒形貌有显著的影响;晶粒形貌取决于所用中间合金的种类和Mg添加量大小,相同镁含量时,用Al-5Ti-1B细化比用Al-5Ti-0.2C细化后晶粒的树枝化程度小;细化所用的中间合金相同时,随着镁含量的增加,细化晶粒的树枝化程度增大。     

Effect of the alloy composition on the grain refinement of aluminum alloys

Experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of solute elements on grain refinement in aluminum based hypoeutectic alloys. Grain sizes of the as-cast structures were measured. The measured grain sizes were plotted vs. the undercooling parameter, P, the growth restriction factor, Q, and the solidification interval, ΔT, of the alloys. The results indicated that grain sizes decrease monotonically with increasing ΔT over the whole range of the hypoeutectic compositions whereas the relationships between the grain size and P or Q are “V” type curves.     

Grain refinement of primary silicon in hypereutectic Al-Si alloys by different P-containing compounds

The grain refinement behavior of Si-3 P,Si-25 Mn-10 P,and Al-10 Si-2 Fe-3 P master alloys on hypereutectic Al-24 Si alloy was studied.Microstructure analysis indicates that the P-containing compounds in the three master alloys are Si P,Mn P,and Al P,respectively.The coarse flower-like primary silicon in the Al-24 Si alloy transforms into smaller,well-distributed blocks with the addition of various master alloys.When pouring at 840°C,the average grain size of the primary silicon refined by Si-25 Mn-10 P master alloy with a holding time of 30 min is about 18μm,which is significantly smaller than those refined by Si-3 P and Al-10 Si-2 Fe-3 P master alloys.The grain size shows an increasing trend when the holding time is further prolonged.Higher holding temperature has a positive effect on the grain refinement of Si-25 Mn-10 P master alloy.The grain refinement mechanism of the three master alloys was also discussed.     

Corrosion of twin belt and twin roll cast AlMg3Mn alloys

Corrosion of twin belt and twin roll cast AlMg3Mn sheet samples was investigated. The AlMg3Mn sheet samples submitted to immersion tests undergo alkaline pitting around Al–Fe and α_c-Al(Fe,Mn)Si intermetallic particles in the twin roll and twin belt cast samples respectively. The weight loss is higher in the latter and increases with increasing homogenisation temperature for both groups. The twin roll cast AlMg3Mn samples reveal very few and small alkaline corrosion pits and hence much less weight loss in the immersion tests. The pitting activity is governed in the immersion tests by the microgalvanic corrosion activities between the intermetallic particles and the matrix while the anodic particles were inactive.     

On the mechanism of grain refinement in Al-Zr-Ti alloys

In high-strength aluminum alloys Ti and Zr are commonly present as alloying elements, mostly as anti-recrystallization agents. Grain refinement during solidification is also achieved using Ti but in the form of titanium borides. Our previous investigations showed that a combined addition of Zr and Ti enables considerable grain refinement in aluminum alloys upon cavitation treatment, much stronger than that of Zr alone. The role of titanium and ultrasonic processing remained unclear. In this paper we propose a mechanism of the grain refinement that includes structural changes in solidification sites, their refinement and initiation of heterogeneous nucleation at lower undercooling.     

Al-Si-P master alloy and its modification and refinement performance on Al-Si alloys

An Al-Si-P master alloy has been developed by an in-situ reaction and the electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) results show that there are many pre-formed AlP particles contained in the master alloy. Silicon introduced into the system plays an important role in remarkably im-proving the distribution and content of AlP particles due to their similar crystal structure and lattice parameters. ZL109 alloys have shown fast modification response to the addition of 0.5% Al-15Si-3.SP master alloy at 720℃, with a mass of primary Si precipitating in size of about 15 μm. Also, coarse primary Si grains in Al-30Si alloy can be refined dramatically from 150 μm to 37 μm after the addition of 2.0% Al- 15Si-3.5P master alloy at 850℃. The P recovery of the Al-15Si-3.5P master alloy is much higher than that of a Cu-8.SP master alloy due to the pre-formed AlP particles.