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The role of boron in the grain Refinement of Aluminum with Titanium

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Abstract

It has been known for nearly forty years that the presence of boron in Al-Ti grain refiners has a beneficial effect. Three major theories have been proposed to explain the phenomenon: 1. Boron alters important phase relationships in the Al-Ti-B system. 2. Boron forms TiB2, which is nearly insoluble and acts as an effective nucleus for grain refining. 3. A metastable phase, (Al, Ti)B2, forms and either acts directly as a grain refining agent, or somehow alters the phase relationships as in (1) above. A close examination of these theories, however, shows that none is wholly satisfactory in explaining the experimental evidence. Hence, experimental work was carried out to elucidate further the important role of boron. The (Al, Ti)B2 phase was found to be an effective nucleant in some alloys, in agreement with prior work. In addition, this study suggests that boron may at times improve the grain refining response of Al-Ti alloys by altering the surface structure of TiAl3 nuclei. The mechanisms of grain refinement, therefore, appear to be more complex than has generally been realized.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reading Foundry Products, P.O. Box 135, 19341, Exton, PA

    M. M. Guzowski (Senior Research Engineer)

  2. Reading Foundry Products, P.O. Box 135, 19341, Exton, PA

    G. K. Sigworth (Director of Engineering)

  3. NGK Metals Corp., P.O. Box 13367, 19612-3367, Reading, PA

    D. A. Sentner (Supervisor of Laboratory Services)

Authors
  1. M. M. Guzowski
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  2. G. K. Sigworth
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  3. D. A. Sentner
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Additional information

Formerly Research Engineer, Cabot R & D Laboratories, Reading, PA

Formerly Senior Research Engineer, KB Alloys, Reading, PA

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Guzowski, M.M., Sigworth, G.K. & Sentner, D.A. The role of boron in the grain Refinement of Aluminum with Titanium. Metall Trans A 18, 603–619 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02649476

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