Eutectix manufactures nickel master alloys, copper master alloys, aluminum master alloys, grain refiners, and additives for the metal industry.
Uses of Master Alloys
Control impurities or adjust composition
Master alloys may be introduced into a melt to control impurities or adjust composition. For example, copper alloys may be susceptible to contamination from chromium, oxygen or sulfur. Addition of copper master alloys can provide desulfurization or control oxidation.
Control the properties or crystal structure
Master alloys also are used to control the properties or crystal structure of various alloys. Modifiers and hardeners are used to control the surface finish, electrical conductivity, ductility, machinability, strength, toughness and composition of alloys. Grain refiners are used to control the size and uniformity of crystals thereby improving physical strength, corrosion resistance … In the case of aluminum master alloys, the addition of titanium and or boron produce finer grain size and more uniformity. Grain refiners improve the mechanical strength of the alloy.
Improving the yield and energy efficiency of the melt
Addition of a master alloy offers a means of improving the yield and energy efficiency of the melt.
Total Materia Master Alloys for Aluminum Alloys: Part One explains, “The basic idea of ‘master alloys’ has its grounds in the fact that many alloying elements are very active (Sr, Ti, Mg) or are just unsuitable (Na, B) to be entered in a pure form into aluminum alloys. Also, the production of purified metals like strontium or sodium with the purpose of dissolving only a small amount of addition (0.01-0.2%) is obviously not a cost-effective method. Many active metals can be manufactured much more easily in their alloy form (Al-Ti, Al-Sr, Al-Mg) due to lower activity of the leading elements.’
Simplify complex fabrication techniques
Titanium alloyed with aluminum, molybdenum and vanadium is used in aircraft and aerospace. It is difficult to add high melting point metals such as molybdenum to relatively lower melting point titanium. Various aluminum master alloys and complex fabrication techniques have been used to achieve suitable alloys and reduce anisotropy.
The US Patent Master alloy for the production of titanium-based alloys and method for producing the master alloy US 4684506 A describes the situation as follows “Undissolved molybdenum compounds and unmelted molybdenum particles, when distributed in the titanium-based structure, create problems in fabrication and as to the strength of the pieces made from the alloy because at the inclusion sites of the undissolved alloy or the particles, crack formation can occur. The aging properties of the product are poor, the fatigue resistance is low and, in general, practically all of the strength properties are adversely affected.” It is the principal object of the invention to provide an improved master alloy which will avoid the drawbacks mentioned above.