Aluminium-based grain refiner

Abstract

ALUMINIUM-BASED GRAIN REFINER, which contains zinc, titanium and carbon, synthesized by means of aluminium fusion and the subsequent addition of titanium, zinc and carbon. The microstructure of the master alloy is comprised by an alpha-aluminium matrix, intermetallic phase of TiAl 3 and fine particles of a ternary compound of titanium-zinc-carbide. The titanium content is at least 1% and at the most 20%, the carbon content is at least 0.01% (100 ppm) and at the most 3% and the zinc content is equal to or over 1%.

1 . ALUMINIUM-BASED GRAIN REFINER, also called master alloy, of the type used for refining the grain of aluminium and of its alloys, characterised by the fact that it contains zinc, titanium and carbon; by its being produced or synthesized by means of aluminium fusion and the subsequent addition of titanium, zinc and carbon; and by the microstructure of the master alloy being comprised by an alpha-aluminium matrix, intermetallic phase of TiAl 3  and fine particles (particle size within the interval between nm and a few μm) of a ternary compound of titanium-zinc-carbide. 
     
     
         2 . ALUMINIUM-BASED GRAIN REFINER, according to  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that the titanium content is at least 1% and at the most 20%, the carbon content is at least 0.05% (100 ppm) and at the most 3% and the zinc content is at least 1%. 
     
     
         3 . ALUMINIUM-BASED GRAIN REFINER, according to  claim 2 , characterized by the fact that the titanium content is 1%. 
     
     
         4 . ALUMINIUM-BASED GRAIN REFINER, according to  claim 2 , characterized by the fact that the titanium content is greater than 1% but less than 20%. 
     
     
         5 . ALUMINIUM-BASED GRAIN REFINER, according to  claim 2 , characterized by the fact that the titanium content is 20%. 
     
     
         6 . ALUMINIUM-BASED GRAIN REFINER, according to  claim 2 , characterized by the fact that the carbon content is 100 ppm. 
     
     
         7 . ALUMINIUM-BASED GRAIN REFINER, according to  claim 2 , characterized by the fact that the carbon content is greater than 100 ppm but less than 3%. 
     
     
         8 . ALUMINIUM-BASED GRAIN REFINER, according to  claim 2 , characterized by the fact that the carbon content is 3%. 
     
     
         9 . ALUMINIUM-BASED GRAIN REFINER, according to  claim 2 , characterized by the fact that the zinc content is 1%. 
     
     
         10 . ALUMINIUM-BASED GRAIN REFINER, according to  claim 2 , characterized by the fact that the zinc content is greater than 1%.