Electro-Impulsive Nanotechnology for Preparing an Aluminum — Refractory-Metal Master Alloy

This article examines the use of nanosecond electromagnetic pulses (NESPs) to alloy aluminum with refractory metals. The alloying is done by treating aluminum melts with halides of transition-group elements. The action of NESPs on the given system at power densities within the range 1000-1500 MW/m^sup 3^ partially destroys clusters in the melt and increases its fluidity; the high-melting alloying elements have an inoculating effect, and the gaseous reaction products that are formed create the conditions necessary for efficient refining of the melt. High-power electro-impulsive loading results in the formation of compact globular intermetallide inclusions of the Al-Mo and Al-Ti systems. These inclusions, with a size of 3-8 µm, improve the physicomechanical characteristics of aluminum alloys. The use of aluminum -- refractory metal master alloys and silumins prepared with the use of NESPs improves the quality of thin-walled castings of complex form.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]