Microstructures and grain refinement performance of Al-Ti-B-C grain refiner via powder metallurgy

摘要

The Al-5Ti-0.5B-0.5C grain refiner was pre-pared by powder metallurgy(PM).Microstructures of the grain refiner and its grain refinement performance in commercially pure aluminum(Al)were investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC).It is found that the average grain size of commercially pure Al can be reduced from~15,000 to~180μm by the addition of Al-5Ti-0.5B-0.5C grain refiner prepared by PM,based on 0.01 wt%Ti addition.The grain refinement efficiency begins to decrease slightly when the grain refiner is kept in the melt for 60 min.The grain refinement is attributed to high stability,proper size,and high density of Al3Ti,TiB2,and TiC particles.