Microstructural Improvement of Eutectic Al + Mg2Si Phases on Al-Zn-Si-Mg Cast Alloy with TiB2 Particles Additions.

In this study, the effects of adding TiB2 particles to eutectic Al + Mg2Si phases in aluminum alloys were analyzed. The eutectic Al + Mg2Si phases were modified effectively when a large amount of TiB2 was added, and changes in the shape, size, and distribution of the eutectic Al + Mg2Si phases were confirmed using a polarizing microscope and FE-SEM. The crystal structure of the TiB2 particles and Mg2Si phases were analyzed using HR-TEM, and the analysis confirmed that the TiB2 particles can act as heterogeneous nucleation sites. This paper intends to clarify the principle of phase modification of the eutectic Al + Mg2Si phases by TiB2 particles and proposes a new mechanism to improve Mg2Si phase modification when TiB2 particles are added.