The influence of TiB2 particles on the effectiveness of Al–3Ti–0.15C grain refiner

This work deals with the influence of TiB2 particles already present, and added in the form of Al–5Ti–1B grain refiner, on the effectiveness of Al–3Ti–0.15C grain refiner in an Al–Fe alloy. We found that Al–3Ti–0.15C grain refiner is ineffective in the case of the addition of both Al–5Ti–1B and Al–3Ti–0.15C grain refiners to an Al–Fe alloy. Despite the presence of TiB2 particles in the Al–Fe alloy, Al–3Ti–0.15C grain refiner is, however, effective when added on its own to an Al–Fe alloy. The effectiveness and ineffectiveness of Al–3Ti–0.15C grain refiner with Al–Fe alloys were also confirmed by the presence of TiC particles and TiB2 particles in the centres of the α-Al grains. Recalescence on solidification measured by in-situ thermal analysis can explain the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of Al–3Ti–0.15C grain refiner in Al–Fe alloys.