Effect of TiB2 and ZrB2 additions on structure and properties of Fe-7Al based light weight steel

Microstructural modifications and their effect on tensile properties in an Fe-7  wt.% Al alloy by additions of 0.5% TiB2, 0.5% ZrB2 or both has been studied. Alloys are examined in the as-cast as well as in the hot-rolled and annealed conditions. Solidification structure of the Vacuum Arc Remelted pancake ingots was columnar dendritic. Further, boride modified alloys are found to have finer grains in as-cast as well as in hot-rolled and annealed conditions. In the annealed condition, boride containing alloys were found to have superior tensile yield strength, ductility and strain hardening behaviour. These property improvements are attributed to boride aided grain refinement during casting as well as during thermo-mechanical processing of the steels.