Aluminium Based Master Alloys

What is master alloy aluminium?

A master alloy is a base metal such as aluminium, copper or nickel combined with a relatively high percentage of one or two other elements. An example is AlTi10 - a binary alloy consisting of 10% titanium in aluminium. A master alloy is a semi-finished product. It is manufactured for use as a raw material by the metals industry. Master alloys are produced in various shapes. Examples are: ingot, waffle plate, rod in coils, etc. 

Aluminium alloys containing up to 14% Silicon will solidify naturally into coarse, brittle plates of Silicon in a medium of Aluminium. The mechanical strength and ductility of such a casting will be poor and its use limited.

Features of Aluminum Based Alloy

Master Alloys are able to alter the microstructure of metals during casting and solidification, thereby altering their properties. Properties that can be modified include: castability, surface finish, electrical conductivity, mechanical strength or ductility.

Applcaitons of Aluminum Based Master Alloy

Aluminum Based Master alloys are added for specific purposes other than those listed above. For example, aluminum-boron or AlB or Boral is added to increase the conductivity of EC grade aluminum, a process commonly referred to as boron treatment. Aluminum-beryllium or AlBe and now also aluminum-calcium (AlCa) are added to minimize oxide and spinel formation in AlMg alloys, for example, aluminum-zirconium is used to increase the recrystallization temperature of 7000 series alloys.