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In Situ Metal Matrix Composites: Theory and Applications—Celebration on the 40th Teaching Anniversary of Prof. Chunxiang Cui

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Metals and Alloys".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2024) | Viewed by 10624

Special Issue Editors

Key Laboratory for New Type of Functional Materials of Hebei Province, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300400, China
Interests: solidification behavior of light alloys; bulk metallic glass composites; strengthening and toughening of metals and their fatigue behavior; functional metal materials for water treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Key Laboratory for New Type of Functional Materials of Hebei Province, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300400, China
Interests: biodegradable metals; bone tissue engineering scaffolds; porous Zn-based scaffolds; metal matrix composites; corrosion; magnesium alloys; micro-arc oxidation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In situ composite theory originates from the classical metallurgical concept of in situ crystallization, that is, the second phase or reinforcement phase is produced in situ during the formation of materials to obtain good interface bonding. After over 50 years of development, the strategy of in situ synthesis has been extended to a wider range of material systems, such as alloys, ceramics, carbon-based composite materials, and polymer materials, playing an important role in material design and product manufacturing. In situ metal matrix composites (in situ MMCs), which benefit from in situ synthesis reaction, have shown the characteristics of tight interface bonding, controllable reinforcement phase morphology and volume fraction, and low production cost and excellent performance. Related commercial products have received significant attention in aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, robots, equipment manufacturing, environmental protection, new energy, biomedical materials, and other fields.

Professor Chunxiang Cui, as one of the first Chinese scholars who paid attention to the in situ synthesis theory, has been engaged in the research of MMCs for a long time, and has made outstanding achievements in the fields of high strength and high conductivity copper matrix composites, high modulus aluminum matrix composites, advanced titanium aluminum matrix composites, nano magnetic composites, etc. Moreover, he retraced the idea of in situ synthesis from the field of composite design to the field of metallurgy, proposed the concept of in situ composite inoculant (or master alloy) which is prepared by nano crystallization and used as modifying and refining agents to modify and refine aluminum alloys, titanium aluminum alloys, and alloy steels. This new concept was applied in improving the traditional metal metallurgy technology, effectively improving the metallurgical quality and service performance of common metal materials. This academic idea has aroused great attention in the field of iron and steel metallurgy, and has inspired a series of new developments in the current era of traditional technologies, such as inoculation or modification. At present, he has published more than 490 academic papers related to in situ MMCs, and has applied for 65 invention patents, making outstanding contributions to the development of MMCs in China. In October 2020, he won the International Advanced Materials Scientist Award issued by the International Society for Advanced Materials.

Professor Chunxiang Cui, as one of the first to attain the major of Material Science and Engineering in China, has been engaged in the field of higher education for 40 years. He is good at teaching students in accordance with their aptitude, teaching them in a method that works best for them. He has trained a large number of talents engaged in the research of MMCs and other field of materials. In order to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Professor Chunxiang Cui becoming a teacher, we invite you to contribute to this commemorative Special Issue, which focuses on the following topics: in situ synthesis technology, composite microstructure characterization, mechanical behavior and deformation mechanism, functional properties and their physical essence, interface microstructure representation, interface reconstruction and interface structure regulation, in situ surface engineering, etc. This Special Issue will cover all aspects of the above topics, including computation, simulation, theoretical and experimental research, and both research papers and review articles are welcomed.

Dr. Xin Wang
Dr. Lichen Zhao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • metal matrix composite
  • in situ synthesis
  • interface microstructure
  • aluminium alloys
  • titanium alloys
  • magnesium alloy
  • alloy steels
  • biomaterial
  • new energy materials

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 11407 KiB  
Article
Effect of In Situ NbC-Cr7C3@graphene/Fe Nanocomposite Inoculant Modification and Refinement on the Microstructure and Properties of W18Cr4V High-Speed Steel
by Lina Bai, Guixing Zheng, Lijie Zhang, Shuangjin Liu, Laichun Xu, Haowen Zheng and Jie Liu
Materials 2024, 17(5), 976; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17050976 - 20 Feb 2024
Viewed by 330
Abstract
A novel graphene-coated nanocrystalline ceramic particle, iron-based composite inoculant was developed in this study to optimize the as-cast microstructure and mechanical properties of W18Cr4V high-speed steel (HSS). The effects of the composite inoculant on the microstructure, crystal structure, and mechanical properties of HSS [...] Read more.
A novel graphene-coated nanocrystalline ceramic particle, iron-based composite inoculant was developed in this study to optimize the as-cast microstructure and mechanical properties of W18Cr4V high-speed steel (HSS). The effects of the composite inoculant on the microstructure, crystal structure, and mechanical properties of HSS were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The (002-) and (020) crystal planes of the Fe3C and Cr7C3 phases, respectively, were collinear at two points in the reciprocal space, indicating a coherent relationship between the Fe3C and Cr7C3 phases in the tempered modified HSS. This contributed to an improved non-uniform nucleation rate and refining of the HSS grains. The mechanical properties of the modified steel exhibited a general improvement. Specifically, the modification treatment enhanced the hardness of HSS from HRC 63.2 to 66.4 and the impact toughness by 48.3%. Full article
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15 pages, 7793 KiB  
Article
Fabrication and Properties of a Biodegradable Zn-Ca Composite
by Mengsi Zhang, Xinyuan Wang, Shuo Zhang, Tiebao Wang, Xin Wang, Shuiqing Liu, Lichen Zhao and Chunxiang Cui
Materials 2023, 16(19), 6432; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16196432 - 27 Sep 2023
Viewed by 565
Abstract
In recent years, Zn and its alloys have become some of the most promising degradable metals as in vivo implants due to their acceptable biocompatibility and more suitable degradation rate compared with Mg-based and Fe-based alloys. However, the degradation rate of Zn-based materials [...] Read more.
In recent years, Zn and its alloys have become some of the most promising degradable metals as in vivo implants due to their acceptable biocompatibility and more suitable degradation rate compared with Mg-based and Fe-based alloys. However, the degradation rate of Zn-based materials after implantation in the body for orthopedic applications is relatively slow, leading to long-term retention of the implants after fulfilling their missions. Moreover, the excessive release of Zn2+ during the degradation process of Zn-based implants usually leads to high cytotoxicity and delayed osseointegration. To provide a feasible solution to the problem faced by Zn-based implants, a Zn-Ca composite was fabricated by an air pressure infiltration method in this work. The XRD pattern of the composite suggests that the composite is fully composed of Zn-Ca intermetallic compounds. The degradation tests in vitro show that the composite has a much higher degradation rate than pure Zn, and the high Ca content regions in the composite can preferentially degrade as sacrificial anodes. In addition, the composite can efficiently induce Ca-P deposition during immersion tests in Hank’s solution. Cytotoxicity tests indicate that L-929 cells exhibit around 82% cell viability (Grade 1) even after being cultured in the 100% extract prepared from the Zn-Ca composite for 1 day and show excellent cell viability. Full article
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17 pages, 11496 KiB  
Article
Study on the Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of Nd-Fe-B/Fe-Co Composite Nanowires
by Licong Kang, Wei Yang, Lichen Zhao, Chunxiang Cui and Feng Cao
Materials 2023, 16(16), 5541; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16165541 - 09 Aug 2023
Viewed by 730
Abstract
To solve the problem of the low coercivity of Nd-Fe-B-based nanowires impeding their application in magnetic storage media, highly ordered Nd-Fe-B/Fe-Co composite nanowires were fabricated in an anodic alumina template by means of the alternating electrochemical deposition method. In this paper, the effect [...] Read more.
To solve the problem of the low coercivity of Nd-Fe-B-based nanowires impeding their application in magnetic storage media, highly ordered Nd-Fe-B/Fe-Co composite nanowires were fabricated in an anodic alumina template by means of the alternating electrochemical deposition method. In this paper, the effect of soft and hard magnetic phase compositing on the magnetic properties of Nd-Fe-B-based nanowires was investigated, and the coercivity improvement mechanism was demonstrated. The results show that after annealing at 600 °C for 2 h, Nd-Fe-B/Fe-Co nanowires crystallize into a multiphase structure containing a hard Nd2(Fe, Co)14B phase and soft NdB4, NdB6, Fe7Nd, and Fe7Co3 phases. It is characterized that the Nd2(Fe, Co)14B phase preferentially nucleates, followed by NdB4 + NdB6 + Fe7Nd, while Fe7Co3 has been formed in as-deposited nanowires. The existence of a Nd2(Fe, Co)14B phase with high anisotropy fields, the remanence enhancement effect produced by exchange coupling between hard–soft magnetic phases, and the pinning effect between different phases make the composite nanowires approximately exhibit single hard magnetic phase characteristics with coercivity and remanence ratio as high as 4203.25 Oe and 0.89. The results indicate that synthesizing Nd-Fe-B/Fe-Co exchange-coupled composite nanowires via alternating electrodeposition is an effective way to optimize the magnetic performance of Nd-Fe-B-based nanowires. Full article
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19 pages, 7247 KiB  
Article
Design Optimization and Mechanical Properties of SiC Particle Reinforced Ti-Based Metallic Glass Matrix Composite
by Huawei Liu, Jing Li, Jingyao Zhang, Pan Gong, Wei Yang, Lichen Zhao and Xin Wang
Materials 2023, 16(15), 5323; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16155323 - 28 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 734
Abstract
Ti-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) alloys have attracted widespread attention due to their strong glass forming ability, high specific strength, and good corrosion resistance. However, the poor plasticity of BMGs limits their further application in the aerospace and aircraft fields, as well as [...] Read more.
Ti-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) alloys have attracted widespread attention due to their strong glass forming ability, high specific strength, and good corrosion resistance. However, the poor plasticity of BMGs limits their further application in the aerospace and aircraft fields, as well as others. We optimized the composition of SiC-reinforced, Ti-based metallic glass matrix composites (MGMCs) through finite element modeling (FEM). FEM of MGMCs containing irregularly shaped SiC particles with different contents was conducted. Stress and strain analyses were conducted to evaluate the effect of the particle volume fraction on the mechanical behavior of MGMCs, and an optimization value of 30% was obtained, which is conducive to plasticity improvement. Arc melting copper mold injection casting was used to verify the optimized SiC content. The results show that the electroless nickel plating treatment effectively improves the wettability between SiC particles and the amorphous matrix, enabling the successful preparation of SiC/MGMC with a volume fraction of 29.5% through traditional injection casting. The volume fraction of SiC plays a crucial role in the transition of fracture mode from splitting to shear in MGMCs. After adding lightweight SiC particles, the yield strength, plasticity, modulus, and specific strength were improved by 25%, 1471%, 46%, and 33%, indicating that the use of nickel-plated SiC particles in MGMCs is an effective strengthening and toughening method for BMGs. Full article
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10 pages, 6341 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Al3Ti-Al2O3/Al Inoculant and Its Inoculation Effect on Al-Cu-Mn Alloy
by Jinhua Ding, Chao Wang, Cheng Lu, Guangming Zhu, Nana Guo, Xujie Gao, Xin Wang and Chunxiang Cui
Materials 2023, 16(15), 5264; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16155264 - 27 Jul 2023
Viewed by 778
Abstract
The grain size plays a pivotal role in determining the properties of the alloy. The grain size can be significantly decreased by adding inoculants. Aiming to address the shortcomings of existing inoculants, the Al3Ti-Al2O3/Al inoculant was successfully [...] Read more.
The grain size plays a pivotal role in determining the properties of the alloy. The grain size can be significantly decreased by adding inoculants. Aiming to address the shortcomings of existing inoculants, the Al3Ti-Al2O3/Al inoculant was successfully prepared using Al-Ti master alloy and Al2O3 whiskers as raw materials. With the aid of ultrasonic energy, the Al2O3 whiskers were uniformly dispersed within the inoculants. Under the combined action of ultrasonic and titanium, the Al2O3 whiskers were broken into small particles at high temperature. To enhance the morphology of Al3Ti and achieve even particle dispersion throughout the matrix, vacuum rapid quenching treatment was applied to the inoculant. The SEM test results indicated a significant reduction in particle size after vacuum rapid quenching. The Al3Ti-Al2O3/Al inoculants exhibited excellent grain refinement effects on the weldable Al-Cu-Mn alloy. Crystallographic calculations and HRTEM analysis revealed that Al2O3 and Al have orientation relationships, indicating their potential as effective heterogeneous nucleation sites. The mechanical properties of the Al-Cu-Mn alloy were obviously improved after the Al3Ti-Al2O3/Al inoculant was added. Full article
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13 pages, 15784 KiB  
Article
Effect of Nb on the Damping Property and Pseudoelasticity of a Porous Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloy
by Peng Sun, Qingzhou Wang, Jianhang Feng, Puguang Ji, Jianjun Zhang and Fuxing Yin
Materials 2023, 16(14), 5057; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16145057 - 17 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 854
Abstract
In order to develop novel high damping materials with excellent pseudoelasticity (PE) properties to meet the application requirements in aerospace, medical, military and other fields, porous Ni50.8Ti49.2 shape memory alloy (SMA) was prepared by the powder metallurgy method. Different contents [...] Read more.
In order to develop novel high damping materials with excellent pseudoelasticity (PE) properties to meet the application requirements in aerospace, medical, military and other fields, porous Ni50.8Ti49.2 shape memory alloy (SMA) was prepared by the powder metallurgy method. Different contents of Nb element were added to regulate the microstructures. It was found that after adding the Nb element, the number of precipitates significantly decreased, and the Nb element was mainly distributed in the Ni-Ti matrix in the form of β-Nb blocks surrounded by Nb-rich layers. Property tests showed that with the increase in Nb content, the damping and PE increased first and then decreased. When the Nb content reached 9.0 at.%, the highest damping and the best PE could be achieved. Compared with the porous Ni-Ti SMA without Nb addition, the damping and PE increased by 60% and 35%, respectively. Correlated mechanisms were discussed. Full article
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12 pages, 5594 KiB  
Article
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Dual Scaled NbC/Ti2AlC Reinforced Titanium–Aluminum Composite
by Sen Cui, Chunxiang Cui and Xin Wang
Materials 2023, 16(13), 4661; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16134661 - 28 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 742
Abstract
A TiAl composite containing hybrid particles and whisker reinforcements is fabricated by vacuum melting. The results of this study show that the comprehensive mechanical properties and refining effect of the material are best when the content of reinforcement is 1 wt.%, and then [...] Read more.
A TiAl composite containing hybrid particles and whisker reinforcements is fabricated by vacuum melting. The results of this study show that the comprehensive mechanical properties and refining effect of the material are best when the content of reinforcement is 1 wt.%, and then the mechanical properties begin to deteriorate as the content increases further. Finely dispersed NbC particles and uniformly dispersed Ti2AlC whiskers are the ideal second phases. The synergistic strengthening effect of NbC particles and in situ Ti2AlC whiskers are key to the improvement of mechanical properties. Compared with the TiAlNb matrix, the fracture stress/strain of the composite at 1073 K is improved from 612 MPa/19.4% to 836 MPa/26.6%; the fracture toughness at room temperature is improved from 18.8 MPa/m2 to 27.4 MPa/m2. Full article
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16 pages, 10074 KiB  
Article
Migration Behavior of Inclusions at the Solidification Front in Oxide Metallurgy
by Chunliang Yan, Fengming Wang, Wenling Mo, Pengcheng Xiao and Qingjun Zhang
Materials 2023, 16(12), 4486; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16124486 - 20 Jun 2023
Viewed by 750
Abstract
Distribution of inclusions plays an essential role in inducing intracrystalline ferrite, and the migration behavior of inclusions during solidification has a significant influence on their distribution. The solidification process of DH36 (ASTMA36) steel and the migration behavior of inclusions at the solidification front [...] Read more.
Distribution of inclusions plays an essential role in inducing intracrystalline ferrite, and the migration behavior of inclusions during solidification has a significant influence on their distribution. The solidification process of DH36 (ASTMA36) steel and the migration behavior of inclusions at the solidification front were observed in situ using high-temperature laser confocal microscopy. The annexation, rejection, and drift behavior of inclusions in the solid–liquid two-phase region were analyzed, providing a theoretical basis for regulating the distribution of inclusions. Analysis of inclusion trajectories showed that the velocity of inclusions decreases significantly as they near the solidification front. Further study of the force on inclusions at the solidification frontier shows three situations: attraction, repulsion, and no influence. Additionally, a pulsed magnetic field was applied during the solidification process. The original dendritic growth mode changed to that of equiaxed crystals. The compelling attraction distance for inclusion particles with a diameter of 6 μm at the solidification interface front increased from 46 μm to 89 μm, i.e., the effective length for the solidification front engulfing inclusions can be increased by controlling the flow of molten steel. Full article
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12 pages, 2664 KiB  
Article
Effect of Multi-Element Microalloying on the Structure and Properties of High Chromium Cast Iron
by Tao Liu, Jibing Sun, Zhixia Xiao, Jun He, Weidong Shi and Chunxiang Cui
Materials 2023, 16(9), 3292; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16093292 - 22 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 947
Abstract
High chromium cast iron (HCCI) has been widely used as wear-resistant material in the industry. Alloying is an effective way to improve the microstructure and mechanical properties of HCCI. This paper added multi-component V-Fe-Ti-Nb-C-Zr-B alloy (VFC) to HCCI, showing a significant synergistic solution-strengthening [...] Read more.
High chromium cast iron (HCCI) has been widely used as wear-resistant material in the industry. Alloying is an effective way to improve the microstructure and mechanical properties of HCCI. This paper added multi-component V-Fe-Ti-Nb-C-Zr-B alloy (VFC) to HCCI, showing a significant synergistic solution-strengthening effect. The results show that the added V-Ti-Nb-B are dissolved in M7C3 carbide to form the (Cr, Fe, V, Ti, Nb)7(C, B)3 alloy carbide, and a small amount of V and all Zr are dissolved in austenite and martensite. Adding VFC into HCCI improved the hardenability of HCCI, decreased the residual austenite content from 6.0 wt% to 0.9 wt%, increased the martensite content from 70.7 wt% to 82.5 wt%, and changed the structure and content of M7C3 carbide. These changes increased the hardness of as-cast and heat-tread HCCI by 1.4% and 4.1%, increased the hardness of austenite and martensite by 7.9% and 7.0%, increased the impact toughness by 16.9%, and decreased the friction coefficient and wear loss by 2.3 % and 7.0 %, respectively. Thus, the hardness, toughness, wear resistance, and friction resistance of HCCI alloy are improved simultaneously. Full article
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15 pages, 11779 KiB  
Article
Fast Degradation of Azo Dyes by In Situ Mg-Zn-Ca-Sr Metallic Glass Matrix Composite
by Rui Jin, Gaojiong Wang, Xin Wang, Wei Yang and Yumin Qi
Materials 2023, 16(6), 2201; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16062201 - 09 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1173
Abstract
Mg-based metallic glass (MG) has attracted extensive attention in the field of wastewater treatment due to its high decolorization rate in degrading azo dyes. However, the azo dye degradation rate of Mg-based MGs is strongly dependent on the particle size. Improving the intrinsic [...] Read more.
Mg-based metallic glass (MG) has attracted extensive attention in the field of wastewater treatment due to its high decolorization rate in degrading azo dyes. However, the azo dye degradation rate of Mg-based MGs is strongly dependent on the particle size. Improving the intrinsic degradation efficiency using large particles is of great interest for future applications. In this work, in-situ metallic glass matrix composites (MGMCs) with high Mg content were successfully prepared by melt spinning. It is found that when the Mg content is 79–82%, the as-spun sample shows typical glassy characteristics. The SEM and XRD tests confirm that the as-spun sample is composed of α-Mg dendrite, multiple Mg-Zn intermetallic particles and an MG matrix. The degradation experiment using Direct Blue 6 and a 500 μm particle sample demonstrate that the Mg82Zn14Ca3Sr1 MGMC sample degrades azo dyes faster than typical Mg-Zn-Ca MG alloy. It can be attributed to the galvanic cell effect on the α-Mg/MG interface, which reduces the waste of active Mg atoms in the MG matrix according to the corrosion protection mechanism by the α-Mg anode sacrifice. This result provides a new perspective and insight into the design of azo dye degradation alloys and the understanding of degradation mechanisms. Full article
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12 pages, 5036 KiB  
Article
Grain Refinement Mechanisms of TiC0.5N0.5 Nanoparticles in Aluminum
by Kui Wang, Haiyan Jiang, Qudong Wang and Yingxin Wang
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1214; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031214 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1265
Abstract
In this study, TiC0.5N0.5 nanoparticles (NPs) are shown to induce a remarkable grain refinement of aluminum at various cooling rates. The grain refinement mechanisms are systematically investigated by microstructure observation, edge-to-edge matching (E2EM) model prediction, and first-principles calculations. The experimental [...] Read more.
In this study, TiC0.5N0.5 nanoparticles (NPs) are shown to induce a remarkable grain refinement of aluminum at various cooling rates. The grain refinement mechanisms are systematically investigated by microstructure observation, edge-to-edge matching (E2EM) model prediction, and first-principles calculations. The experimental results suggest that as the cooling rates increase from 10 K/s to 70 K/s, a transition from intergranular to intragranular distribution of NPs occurs and the Al/TiC0.5N0.5 interface varies from incoherent to coherent. Based on the E2EM analysis combined with first-principles calculation, it is found that TiC0.5N0.5 can act as a potent nucleant for the heterogeneous nucleation of α-Al. By analyzing the NP effects on the nucleation and growth of α-Al, the grain growth restriction and nucleation promotion mechanisms are proposed to elucidate the refinement phenomena at low and high cooling conditions, respectively. Full article
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Review

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19 pages, 2433 KiB  
Review
Development of Inoculants for Aluminum Alloy: A Review
by Shuiqing Liu, Tong Zhao, Jinyuan Fu and Qun Zu
Materials 2023, 16(15), 5500; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16155500 - 07 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1045
Abstract
Aluminum and its alloys are widely used in packaging, transportation, electrical materials, and many other fields because of their abundance, light weight, good mechanical properties, suitable corrosion resistance, excellent electrical conductivity, and other advantages. Grain refinement achieved by adding inoculant is important not [...] Read more.
Aluminum and its alloys are widely used in packaging, transportation, electrical materials, and many other fields because of their abundance, light weight, good mechanical properties, suitable corrosion resistance, excellent electrical conductivity, and other advantages. Grain refinement achieved by adding inoculant is important not only to reduce the segregation and thermal cracking of alloy castings but also to improve the mechanical properties of alloy castings. Therefore, fine equiaxed grain structure has always been one of the goals pursued by the aluminum alloy casting industry. For this reason, the selection and development of effective inoculants for aluminum alloy is a key technology in the aluminum processing industry. This paper summarizes the development history of inoculants for aluminum alloy, including Al-Ti-C, Al-Ti-B, Al-Ti, Al-Ti-B-(C)-Ce, Al-Sc, and the Fe-rich phase of Al-Si alloy. At the same time, the advantages and disadvantages of common inoculants are introduced and prospective future applications are reviewed. Full article
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