A Comparative Study of Grain Refining of Al-(7–17%) Si Cast Alloys Using Al-10% Ti and Al-4% B Master Alloys

The present article addresses solidification parameters, and includes analyses of the macrostructure and microstructure in the light of the results obtained from the thermal analysis, from which it is possible to conclude that undercooling (TS) and recalescence (TR) temperatures increase with the initial increase in titanium (Ti) concentration. If the concentration reaches approximately 0.25%, a rapid decrease in these temperatures is observed. Thereafter, the temperatures increase again with the further increase in Ti concentration, and eventually become constant. These temperatures also vary depending on the superheating and casting temperature. The ∆T parameter (i.e., TS − TR) decreases with the Ti concentration and, from a concentration of around 0.20% Ti, this parameter becomes zero. The grain size decreases with the Ti concentration. If the concentration exceeds about 0.20%, the grain size becomes the minimum. Another parameter to be considered is the interaction between the grain refiner and the traces of other metals in the base Al alloy. For example, Al-4%B can react with traces of Ti that may exist in the base alloy, leading to the reaction between boron (B) and Ti to form TiB2. Grain refinement is achieved primarily with TiB2 rather than AlB2, or both, depending on the Ti content in the given alloy.