Grain refinement of aluminum alloys. Part 1: The nucleant and solute paradigms -- a review of the literature

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-999-0098-5· OSTI ID:677973

Easton, M; StJohn, D ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Queensland (Australia)

Despite the extensive literature on grain refinement, there is not a consensus on the mechanism of grain refinement in aluminum alloys. Recently, there has been a shift in understanding of the grain-refinement paradigm from purely being concerned with the nucleation event, called here the nucleant paradigm, to also being concerned with the effect of solute elements, or, the solute paradigm, on the final grain structure. This article is divided into two parts. In Part 1, the literature underpinning both paradigms is explained, and the validity of the paradigm shift toward the solute paradigm as a more complete understanding of grain refinement is presented. Part 2 experimentally confirms the validity of the solute paradigm and details a mechanism which explains the need for both effective nucleants and a solute of a good segregating power in order to obtain grain refinement.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 677973
• Journal Information: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science, Journal Name: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. A, Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 30; ISSN 1073-5623; ISSN MMTAEB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
GRAIN REFINEMENT
LIQUID METALS
NUCLEATION
PARTICLES
SEGREGATION
SOLUTES