Aluminum Grain Refiner

Application

In casting house applications, the control of grain size is critical in maintaining product consistency and quality, in reducing costs and maintaining high levels of productivity.

The controlled addition of AlTiB^TM grain refiners to molten Aluminum releases nucleant particles that promote uniform, fine grain structures throughout the cast alloy, thus avoiding formation of columnar crystals. Casting speed can be increased, and improved feeding characteristics achieved.

Benefits of a refined strure include

1. Consistency of bright color & form
2. Reduced ingot cracking
3. Better homogeneity
4. Reduced porosity
5. Improved feeding
6. Extended furnace refractory life & improved productivity
7. Improved mechanical properties
8. Reduced costs
9. Enhanced response the subsequent heat treatment

Aluminum Grain Refiner
* Different composition(%) of alloys available upon customer's request.

Element	Composition(%)	Color Code
Aluminum Titanium	AlTi6%	Red
Aluminum Titanium-Boron	AlTi3%B1%	Green	Brown
Aluminum Titanium-Boron	AlTi5%B1%	Green
Aluminum Titanium-Boron	AlTi5%B0.6%	Green	Yellow
Aluminum Titanium-Boron	AlTi5%B0.2%	Green	Black
Aluminum Titanium-Boron	AlTi6%B0.2%	Green	Orange
Aluminum Titanium-Boron	AlTi10%B1%	Green	White
Aluminum Titanium-Boron	AlTi10%B0.4%	Green	Dark Blue
Aluminum Titanium	AlTi10%	Red	Black

Grain Refiner Microstructure

Test Report

• Fine grain size means more consistent cast structure.
  SLM maximize the particle's quantities per same % but also minimize the TiAl3 particle size.
• Diminish about 40% of chill layer's thickness as compared with previous materials, whereby provide improved yield.
• Well-organized product could be induced from the numerous TiAl3 per unit area, by which it should be regarded very suitable for thin foil, glossy items & requiring especially mechanical property products.

Criterion Comparison-1
Grain Refiner : 5Ti-1B , 3Ti-1B , 6Ti-0.2B...

Criterion	SLM	Waffle	Remarks
Composition	Al + 5Ti + 1B base	Al+5Ti + a base + (minor B)	Different technical background
Outlook	Al natural color + Natural + brightness w/partly grey	Al natural color w/partly grey	SLM's shiny which makes product anti-corrosive
Solubility	Floating sometime on surface & Completely melt down	Sink down to bottom of furnace right after putting in	SLM's makes grain more uniform + finer
Chemical Analysis	Mostly "TiAl3	"Mixture of "TiAl3" "TiB2" "Al* (Al-Ti)B2"	TiAl3 is main factor for grain refiner
Anti-Corrosion	Good	Weak	Tested with nitric acid / hydrochliric acid
Precipitation on furnace bottom	None	Exist	Reaction with Si or Mg makes precipitation

Criterion Comparison-2
Grain Refiner : 5Ti-1B , 3Ti-1B , 6Ti-0.2B...

Criterion		SLM	Waffle	Remarks
Mechanical/Physical Characteristics		Improve harness, elongation	Improve hardness	Theoriotically compound doesn't work directly for elongation but on "MG+Si"
Brightness		Excellent	Less bright	Decisive by eye
Anodize	Color	Uniform Bright	Inferior	Decisive by eye
	Energy	Saving	Non Efficient
Cost		Inexpensive	Expensive	$10,000 saving per annum (Yield 500 ton)

Criterion Comparison-3
Grain Refiner : 5Ti-1B , 3Ti-1B , 6Ti-0.2B...

Criterion		SLM	Waffle	Remarks
H E A T M A C H I N I N G	Cell by eye	abt. 220μ	Abt.200 μ	SLM's cell less finer by eye but it's better when heat machining
	Cell by Micro	Well developed around DAS (dendrite arm space)	Less developed
	Cell by Microscope	Uniform grain No cluster	Non-uniform , cluster exist	Uniform grain is good for anodizing, Cluster is no good for machining
	Workability	5-6 more billets rolled Per hour, better Welding Line/less graze	Low productivity High graze	SLM's has better rolling speed+ finer surface, Drop the Temperature to get Better workability
	Pressure	10kgs decreased	10 kgs increased
	Life of Dies	Less cushion+ breakage with lowered pressure	More cushion + die line	Cushion,die line taken place by clusters