National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, Moscow, Russia:

M. E. Samoshina, Senior Researcher of Engineering Center “Casting Technologies and Materials”, Assistant Professor of Casting Process Technology Chair
N. A. Belov, Director of Engineering Center “Casting Technologies and Materials”, Professor of Casting Process Technology Chair
A. N. Alabin, Head of Department of Engineering Center “Casting Technologies and Materials”
K. Yu. Chervyakova, Engineer of Engineering Center “Casting Technologies and Materials”, Undergraduate of Casting Process Technology Chair

The possibility of boron-aluminum obtaining by liquid-phase method using double master alloys Al – B was studied in this work. Microstructure and phase composition of commercial master alloys Al – B were studied. There was made a definition, that commercial master alloys Al – 5% B and Al – 10% B have high deformability (up to 90%) at room temperature. The sheets obtained by rolling of commercial master alloy pigs have a microstructure with uniform boride distribution, providing high mechanical properties. There is shown the possibility of obtaining of alloy Al – 3% B by induction melting of the charge consisting of aluminum (99.99%) and master alloy Al – 5% B. Melting of Al – 3% B was carried out in the graphite-fireclay crucible at the temperature of 950 °C. The melt was poured into a graphite mold for flat casting obtaining (40x120x200 mm in size). There was found that Al – 3% B ingot microstructure inherits the commercial master alloy microstructure: AlB12 particle agglomerates, uniformly distributed in aluminum matrix and a small quantity of lamellar phase AlB₂. The possibility of sheet obtaining (thickness of 1 mm) from ingot Al – 3% B (thickness of 40 mm) by cold rolling with intermediate softening annealing at 450 and 300 °С is shown. The sheets have durability properties at the level of sheets of commercial master alloys, and plasticity is at the level of high purity aluminum sheets. There can be made a conclusion that the borides do not impair the technological properties of the investigated binary alloys Al–B. This allows to consider the performance of liquid-phase technology of boron-aluminum production. However, the additional alloying of aluminum matrix is required to achieve a greater durability of sheet products.

This article was written within the Agreement No. 14.578.21.0004 (unique identifier of the project is RFMEFI57814X0004) about the subsidization of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation within realization of the Federal Target Program “Research and development of the priority ways of development of scientific-technological complex of Russia for 2014–2020”.

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