Performance of AlTi5B1, AlTi3B3 and AlB3 master alloys in refining grain structure of aluminium foundry alloys

Abstract

The capacity of AlTi5B1, AlTi3B3 and AlB3 grain refiners to refine the grain structures of AlSi7Mg and AlSi11Cu2 foundry alloys was investigated. The performance of AlTi5B1, well established to be the best grain refiner for wrought aluminium alloys, is not nearly as good with the AlSi7Mg and AlSi11Cu2 alloys. Relatively smaller grains are obtained with the AlTi3B3 grain refiner in both alloys. The AlB3 grain refiner, on the other hand, improves the grain structure only as much as the AlTi5B1 grain refiner does. With as much as 0·04–0·1 wt-%Ti, the commercial alloys cannot enjoy the outstanding potency of the AlB₂ particles since the B supply is readily transformed to TiB₂ particles. However, the grains of the Ti free AlSi7Mg and AlSi11Cu2 alloys (～0·005 wt-%Ti) are very small and nearly globular for the entire range of holding times when inoculated with AlB3, implying not only a remarkable grain refining capacity but also a strong resistance to fading of the grain refinement effect. The lack of Ti in the melt allows the entire B to form AlB₂ particles, the perfect substrates to promote the nucleation of α-Al crystals. Aluminium castings can enjoy grain sizes well below 200 μm, with an addition of 0·02 wt-%B, provided that they are Ti free. That the potent substrates are made available just before the nucleation of α-Al crystals avoids fading effects and is a further advantage of the AlB3 grain refiner in recycling operations.     

Microstructure and refinement mechanism of TiB2/TiAl3 in remelted Al-5Ti-1B system

In this work, we propose a new method (by remelting Al-5Ti-1B) to investigate the grain refinement mechansim. It is found that the morphology and size of TiAl₃ phase had little effect on the grain refinement of pure Al. Therefore, further experimental studies were carried out to understand the potency of TiB₂ particles. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observation has confirmed the existence of an atomic layer on the surface of (0001) TiB₂, which is possibly a two-dimensional (2D) (1-12) TiAl₃. Crystallographic study indicates that it is a more suitable nucleation sites for α-Al than other particles. The TiB₂ particle with TiAl₃ 2D acts as the best effective nucleation sites for α-Al.     

Comparative determination of the α/β phase fraction in α+β-titanium alloys using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy

A comparison is made between the measured α/β phase fractions in Ti-6246 using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy. Image analysis of SEM and TEM images was compared to the phase fraction estimate obtained using electron backscattered diffraction, lab and high-energy synchrotron XRD. There was a good agreement between the electron microscopic and diffraction techniques, provided that the microstructural parameters of grain size and texture are estimated correctly when using quantitative Rietveld refinement.