On the Understanding of Aluminum Grain Refinement by Al-Ti-B Type Master Alloys

Al-Ti-B type master alloys have been widely used in the grain refinement of aluminum since 1940s. The introduction of Al3Ti and TiB2(AlB2) particles reduces the grain sizes down to about 200 micrometer level and makes aluminum alloys castable. However, the mechanism for the grain refinement is still not clear, though it is believed that TiB2 particles in the presence of Al3Ti nucleate alpha-Al grains during solidification. This paper presents our finding on the formation of (Ti,Al)B-2 solid solution, which leads to a proposed theory on grain refinement by Al-Ti-B type master alloys that upon addition into aluminum melt stable TiB2 particles react with aluminum slowly and release titanium into the melt. The titanium thus released in combination with titanium in the melt through dissolution of Al3Ti particles maintains a dynamic titanium-rich layer on the surface of (Ti, Al)B-2. This layer offers a low crystal mismatch with a-Al and promotes the nucleation of aluminum grains. (C) The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International 2014