Microstructural characteristics and evolution of in situ xTiB2/Al-20%Si alloy

xTiB(2)/Al-20%Si composite is a hypereutectic Al-20Si alloy containing x wt% TiB2 sub-micron or nanometre level in situ particles. The xTiB(2)/Al-20%Si composites were prepared using an 11% TiB2/Al-6Si composite as the master alloy. The phases and microstructures in the composites were evaluated by use of XRD, OM, SEM, EDS, EPMA, and TEM. The microstructural evolution of the Al-20Si alloy with the addition of TiB2 particles from 1 wt% to 6 wt% was investigated. The results showed that the primary Si, alpha-Al phase, and eutectic Si could be refined and modified by TiB2. Meanwhile, the crystal structures of Ti-B compound enwrapped by primary Si and alpha-Al phase were identified and analysed and found to form a close-packed hexagonal structure. Compared with the microstructures of composites containing different amounts of TiB2, the TiB2 particles played an important role in the nucleation of primary Si and the growth of primary Si, eutectic Si, and alpha-Al phases, also explaining the mechanism underpinning the effect of TiB2 on the nucleation and growth of Si and alpha-Al phases.