Effect of Al-5Ti-B Inoculant Addition on the Graded Microstructure of Centrifugally Cast Al-13.8 wt.% Mg2Si Composite

To evaluate the effect of inoculant addition on functionally graded microstructure of centrifugally cast Al-Mg2Si composites, two cylinders of Al-13.8 wt.% Mg2Si with and without the addition of 1 wt.% Al-5Ti-B inoculant were cast in a vertical centrifugal casting machine. The chemical composition, microstructures and microstructural phases of the different radial sections of the cast cylinders were studied using induction coupled plasma (ICP) method, optical/scanning electron microscopes, and X-ray diffractometry, respectively. The results showed that in the inoculant content cylinder, owing to the prevailing thermal regime as well as the specific mode of eutectic solidification in this composite, the titanium and boron compounds were segregated towards the middle layer of the cylinder and caused the formation of primary Mg2Si particles and non-eutectic Al () in this layer. In addition, due to the effect of centrifugal force during solidification, a higher volume fraction of the light primary Mg2Si particles, according to Stocks law, was segregated towards the inner layer of the cast cylinders.