Influence of micro-alloying element La on solidification microstructure of Al-Mg alloy inoculated with Al-5Ti-1B

LI Ciyu; ZHANG Lili; ZHANG Yue; JIANG Hongxiang; ZHAO Jiuzhou; HE Jie

doi:10.7498/aps.75.20251122

Abstract

Grain refinement is an effective method to enhance the comprehensive properties of alloys. In industrial production, Al-5Ti-1B master alloys are commonly used to refine the microstructure of aluminum alloys. However, the grain refinement potency of Al-Ti-B master alloys is limited and cannot meet the requirements for high-performance aluminum alloy applications. It has been demonstrated that adding trace amount of micro-alloying element La to the aluminum alloy melt inoculated with Al-5Ti-1B master alloy can further refine the solidification microstructure. Previous research indicates that the addition of 0.06% (weight percent) La is sufficient to achieve an ideal α-Al grain refinement. Our recent experimental results demonstrate that for an Al-Mg alloy of high Mg content inoculated with Al-5Ti-1B master alloy, the optimal addition level of La is about 0.02% (weight percent).Solidification experiments are carried out for Al-Mg alloys inoculated with Al-5Ti-1B master alloy and different addition levels of micro-alloying element La. It is demonstrated that the trace addition of micro-alloying element La shows a further grain refinement effect on Al-Mg alloy and reduces the nucleation undercooling of α-Al. A model is proposed for the segregation behavior of micro-alloying element La at the interface between the Al alloy melt and TiB₂. The mechanism of the enhancement in the efficiency of TiB₂ particles to nucleate α-Al by micro-alloying element La is clarified. The calculation results indicate that La shows a strong segregation tendency toward the interface between the Al melt and TiB₂ particles, thus reducing the interfacial energy and contact angle between TiB₂ and α-Al, enhancing the efficiency of TiB₂ to nucleate α-Al, and further refining α-Al grains.

Keywords:

Authors and contacts

1.
Shool of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang 110870, China
2.
Shi-changxu Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China

Corresponding author: ZHANG Lili, llzhang@imr.ac.cn ; ZHANG Yue, yuezhang@sut.edu.cn ; HE Jie, jiehe@imr.ac.cn

Funds: Project supported by the Science and Technology Major Project of Guangxi Province, China (Grant No. AA23023032) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52174380).

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References

[1]	Kramer L, Phillippi M, Tack W T, Wong C 2012 J. Mater. Eng. Perform. 21 1025 Google Scholar
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[18]	李敏敏, 张恒华, 邵光杰, 许珞萍, 马竹青, 张先念 2005 特种铸造及有色合金 25 61 Google Scholar Li M M, Zhang H H, Shao G J, Xu L P, Ma Z Q, Zhang X N 2005 Spec. Cast. Nonferrous Alloys 25 61 Google Scholar
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[20]	Cheng X H, Mao J 2017 Hot Working Technol. 46 95 [程旭辉, 毛健 2017 热加工工艺 46 95]Google Scholar Cheng X H, Mao J 2017 Hot Working Technol. 46 95 Google Scholar
[21]	Zhang L L, Zheng Q J, Jiang H X, He J, Zhao J Z 2020 J. Mater. Sci. 55 7546 Google Scholar
[22]	Elliott R P, Shunk F A 1981 Bull. Alloy Phase Diagrams 2 219 Google Scholar
[23]	Jones G P, Pearson J 1976 Metall. Trans. 7 223 Google Scholar
[24]	Liu D M, Zhao J Z, Ye H Q 2004 Mater. Sci. Eng. A 372 229 Google Scholar
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[28]	Men H, Fan Z Y 2014 Metall. Mater. Trans. A 45 5508 Google Scholar
[29]	Wynblatt P, Chatain D 2006 Metall. Mater. Trans. A 37 2595 Google Scholar
[30]	张丽丽, 吉宗威, 赵九洲, 何杰, 江鸿翔 2023 金属学报 59 1541 Google Scholar Zhang L L, Ji Z W, Zhao J Z, He J, Jiang H X 2023 Acta Metall. Sin. 59 1541 Google Scholar
[31]	Zhang L L, Jiang H X, He J, Zhao J Z 2020 Scr. Mater. 179 99 Google Scholar
[32]	Zhong Y, Yang M, Liu Z K 2005 Calphad 29 303 Google Scholar
[33]	Mohanty P S, Gruzleski J E 1995 Acta Metall. Mater. 43 2001 Google Scholar

Cited By

图 1 Al-2.5Mg合金OM图像　(a) 未添加Al-5Ti-1B和La; (b) 添加0.4%Al-5Ti-1B; (c) 添加0.4% Al-5Ti-1B+ 0.02%La; (d)添加0.4%Al-5Ti-1B+0.04%La; (e)添加0.4%Al-5Ti-1B+0.06%La

Figure 1. OM images of Al-2.5Mg alloys: (a) Without any inoculation and inoculated; (b) with 0.4% Al-5Ti-1B; (c) with 0.4%Al-5Ti-1B+0.02%La; (d) with 0.4%Al-5Ti-1B+0.04% La; (e) with 0.4%Al-5Ti-1B+0.06%La.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 2 经0.4% Al-5Ti-1B细化处理的Al-2.5Mg合金的平均晶粒尺寸随La添加量的变化

Figure 2. Average size of α-Al grains in Al-2.5Mg alloys inoculated with 0.4% Al-5Ti-1B master alloy varied with La addition level.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 3 (a) Al-2.5Mg合金的DTA熔化和冷却曲线; (b) $ \left({T}_{\text{L}}- {T}_{\text{N}}\right) $和$ \left({T}_{\text{N}}-{T}_{\text{P}}\right) $随La添加量($ {c}_{\text{0La}} $)的变化

Figure 3. (a) DTA heating and cooling curves for the Al-2.5Mg alloy without any inoculation; (b) $ \left({T}_{\text{L}}-{T}_{\text{N}}\right) $ and $ \left({T}_{\text{N}}-{T}_{\text{P}}\right) $ for Al-2.5Mg alloys inoculated with 0.4% Al-5Ti-1B master alloy varied with the La addition level $ {c}_{\text{0La}} $. $ {\left({T}_{\text{L}}-{T}_{\text{N}}\right)}_{0} $ and $ {\left({T}_{\text{N}}-{T}_{\text{P}}\right)}_{0} $ are respectively for the Al-2.5Mg alloys without any inoculation.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 4 添加0.4% Al-5Ti-1B+0.06% La处理的Al-2.5Mg合金　(a) SEM图, 插图为白色相的成分; (b)—(d) 元素Al, Mg, La的X射线能量散谱图

Figure 4. Al-2.5Mg alloy inoculated with 0.4% Al-5Ti-1B+0.06% La: (a) SEM image, inset shows the compositions of the white phase; (b)–(d) energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy maps of Al (b), Mg (c), La (d).

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 5 (a) $ f\left(\theta \right) $随θ 的变化; (b) θ 随$ {c}_{\text{0La}} $的变化

Figure 5. (a) $ f(\theta) $ as a function of θ; (b) θ as a function of $ {c}_{\text{0La}} $.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 6 T_L = 920 K时, $ x_{i}^{\text{In}} $和$ \Delta {\gamma }_{{{\text{Al(L)/TiB}}_{2}}\text{(S)}} $随$ x_{i}^{\text{Mat}} $的变化

Figure 6. $ x_{i}^{\text{In}} $ and $ \Delta {\gamma }_{{{\text{Al(L)/TiB}}_{2}}\text{(S)}} $ varied with $ x_{i}^{\text{Mat}} $ at T_L = 920 K.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

图 7 Q_La随$ {c}_{\text{0La}} $的变化

Figure 7. Q_La varied with $ {c}_{\text{0La}} $.

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

表 1 计算生长限制因子所需参数及Q_i

Table 1. Data required for the calculation of growth restriction factor and the calculated Q_i under the present experimental conditions.

Element	$ {k}_{i} $	$ {m}_{\text{L}i}{/}\left(\text{K}\cdot{\text{%}}^{-1}\right) $	$ {c}^{\prime}_{\text{S}i}/{\text{%}} $	$ {c}^{\prime}_{\text{L}i}{\text{%}} $	Q_i/K	Ref.
La	0.004	–1.71	0.05	11.7	$\leqslant 0.09 $	[22]
Mg	0.54	–7.35	15.2	28.3	8.45	[32]
Ti	7.8	33.3	—	—	2.54	[33]

DownLoad: CSV

[1]	Kramer L, Phillippi M, Tack W T, Wong C 2012 J. Mater. Eng. Perform. 21 1025 Google Scholar
[2]	Vrsalović L, Kliškić M, Radošević J, Gudić S 2005 J. Appl. Electrochem. 35 1059 Google Scholar
[3]	Popović M, Romhanji E 2002 J. Mater. Process. Technol. 125–126 275
[4]	Estrin Y, Vinogradov A 2013 Acta Mater. 61 782 Google Scholar
[5]	Kuzmina M, Ponge D, Raabe D 2015 Acta Mater. 86 182 Google Scholar
[6]	Huang C Q, Liu J X, Jia X D 2019 Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater. 26 1140 Google Scholar
[7]	Lu R Q, Zhang L, Zheng S W, Fu D F, Teng J, Chen J C, Zhao G D, Jiang F L, Zhang H 2022 Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater. 29 108 Google Scholar
[8]	Fan Z, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Qin T, Zhou X R Thompson G E, Pennycook T, Hashimoto T 2015 Acta Mater. 84 292 Google Scholar
[9]	Li J H, Hage F S, Ramasse Q M, Schumacher P 2021 Acta Mater. 206 116652 Google Scholar
[10]	吴俊子, 贾锦玉, 姜佳鑫 2018 稀土信息 2 30 Wu J Z, Jia J Y, Jiang J X 2018 Rare Earth Inform. 2 30
[11]	Zheng Q J, Jiang H X, He J, Zhang L L, Zhao J Z 2021 Sci. China Technol. Sc. 64 2012 Google Scholar
[12]	郑秋菊, 叶中飞, 江鸿翔, 卢明, 张丽丽, 赵九洲 2021 金属学报 57 103 Google Scholar Zheng Q J, Ye Z F, Jiang H X, Lu M, Zhang L L, Zhao J Z, 2021 Acta Metall. Sin. 57 103 Google Scholar
[13]	杨林洁, 张丽丽, 江鸿翔, 何杰, 赵九洲 2023 物理学报 72 086401 Google Scholar Yang L J, Zhang L L, Jiang H X, He J, Zhao J Z 2023 Acta Phys. Sin. 72 086401 Google Scholar
[14]	Zhang L L, Jiang H X, Zhao J Z, He J 2017 J. Mater. Process. Technol. 246 205 Google Scholar
[15]	Han Y F, Shu D, Wang J, Sun B D 2006 Mater. Sci. Eng. A 430 326 Google Scholar
[16]	Kori S A, Murty B S, Chakraborty M 1999 Mater. Sci. Eng. 15 986 Google Scholar
[17]	丁旭, 孟令刚, 姜立, 房灿峰, 周秉文, 亚斌, 赵丰, 张兴国 2018 特种铸造及有色合金 38 772 Google Scholar Ding X, Meng L G, Jiang L, Fang C F, Zhou B W, Ya B, Zhao F, Zhang X G 2018 Spec. Cast. Nonferrous Alloys 38 772 Google Scholar
[18]	李敏敏, 张恒华, 邵光杰, 许珞萍, 马竹青, 张先念 2005 特种铸造及有色合金 25 61 Google Scholar Li M M, Zhang H H, Shao G J, Xu L P, Ma Z Q, Zhang X N 2005 Spec. Cast. Nonferrous Alloys 25 61 Google Scholar
[19]	Li Y, Hu B, Liu B, Nie A, Gu Q F, Wang J F, Li Q 2020 Acta Mater. 187 51 Google Scholar
[20]	Cheng X H, Mao J 2017 Hot Working Technol. 46 95 [程旭辉, 毛健 2017 热加工工艺 46 95]Google Scholar Cheng X H, Mao J 2017 Hot Working Technol. 46 95 Google Scholar
[21]	Zhang L L, Zheng Q J, Jiang H X, He J, Zhao J Z 2020 J. Mater. Sci. 55 7546 Google Scholar
[22]	Elliott R P, Shunk F A 1981 Bull. Alloy Phase Diagrams 2 219 Google Scholar
[23]	Jones G P, Pearson J 1976 Metall. Trans. 7 223 Google Scholar
[24]	Liu D M, Zhao J Z, Ye H Q 2004 Mater. Sci. Eng. A 372 229 Google Scholar
[25]	李淑波, 杜文博, 王旭东, 刘轲, 王朝辉 2018 金属学报 54 911 Google Scholar Li S B, Du W B, Wang X D, Liu K, Wang C H 2018 Acta Metall. Sin. 54 911 Google Scholar
[26]	Zhang L L, Zheng Q J, Jiang H X, Zhao J Z 2019 Scr. Mater. 160 25 Google Scholar
[27]	Wynblatt P 2008 Annu. Rev. Mater. Res. 38 173 Google Scholar
[28]	Men H, Fan Z Y 2014 Metall. Mater. Trans. A 45 5508 Google Scholar
[29]	Wynblatt P, Chatain D 2006 Metall. Mater. Trans. A 37 2595 Google Scholar
[30]	张丽丽, 吉宗威, 赵九洲, 何杰, 江鸿翔 2023 金属学报 59 1541 Google Scholar Zhang L L, Ji Z W, Zhao J Z, He J, Jiang H X 2023 Acta Metall. Sin. 59 1541 Google Scholar
[31]	Zhang L L, Jiang H X, He J, Zhao J Z 2020 Scr. Mater. 179 99 Google Scholar
[32]	Zhong Y, Yang M, Liu Z K 2005 Calphad 29 303 Google Scholar
[33]	Mohanty P S, Gruzleski J E 1995 Acta Metall. Mater. 43 2001 Google Scholar

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