Application of Synchrotron Radiation to Investigate the Formation of TiB2 Particle in Aluminium

Synchrotron radiation was used to reveal the formation mechanisms of TiB2 particle in aluminium melt. The results showed that TiAl3 particles dissolve and release free Ti atoms, which reacting directly with solid-state AlB2 particle is an important source of both dispersed TiB2 nanoparticles and TiB2 aggregation in the high temperature aluminium melt. A model was developed schematically to explain the formation of TiB2 nanoparticle, which can be divided into five steps, while the cracking of the bulk AlB2 particle that increase the contact area between Ti atom and the boride is an important factor controlling the formation of TiB2 particle.

Automated summary

Synchrotron radiation was used to investigate the formation mechanisms of TiB2 particles in an aluminium melt. It was found that TiAl3 particles dissolve and release free Ti atoms, which react directly with solid-state AlB2 particles, serving as an important source for the formation of both dispersed TiB2 nanoparticles and TiB2 aggregations in the high temperature aluminium melt. A model was proposed to explain the formation of TiB2 nanoparticles, consisting of five steps, with the cracking of bulk AlB2 particles being an important factor controlling the formation of TiB2 particles.