Casting and mechanical properties of a reactively cast Al-TiB₂ alloy

Abstract

A reactive casting technique for introducing TiB₂ by a molten salt reaction into 2014A aluminium alloy is described. The resulting ‘as cast’ microstructures for TiB₂ contents up to 10% have been characterised for large-scale ingots in order to observe the effect of longitudinal and radial variations in microstructure. Samples were subsequently extruded and heat treated. The mechanical properties and ageing characteristics are described and compared with other extant data.