Molten aluminum containing a grain refiner was cast into a metallic mold. The solidified castings have an equiaxed structure. When the castings are then remelted and unidirectionally solidified from the bottom, three types of structures, only columnar, equiaxed at the bottom and top, and entirely equiaxed crystals are formed. If such ingots are remelted again and cast into the metallic mold, the solidified structure is of equiaxed. Primary particles of TiAl
3 in Al-Ti master alloy promote formation of equiaxed crystals only when they remain in the melt during pouring as fine particles. Dissolved titanium in the melt always acts as a grain refiner, if the melt is disturbed sufficiently to ensure separation of the necked shape crystals from the mold wall.
View full abstract