Enhanced grain refinement of cast aluminum alloy by thermal and mechanical treatment of Al-5Ti-B master alloy

Al3Ti and TiB2 particles with various sizes in Al-5Ti-B (mass fraction, %) master alloy were produced by liquid-phase isothermal annealing and plastic deformation. The results show that with decreasing the size of particles in the master alloy, the grain refining performance is improved but, the refinement of the particles is useful, and immoderate refining probably accelerates fading of particles, agglomeration, hence decreasing the grain refin efficiency.