ABSTRACT
Grain refinement of an aluminum alloy was carried out by adding 0.6 wt.% Al-Ti5-B1
master alloy to the aluminum alloy melt at 720 °C for a holding time of 10 minutes. 2
wt.% Al2O3 nanoparticles were added to the base melt and mechanically stirred to
produce the nanocomposite. The two types of additions were used in case of the
combined treatment. A considerable grain refinement of the aluminum alloy was
obtained by the addition of Al-Ti5-B1 to its melt. A nanocomposite of fine matrix
grains was also produced. A modified nanocomposite of more refined matrix grains
and homogeneous microstructure was produced by application of the combined
treatment. Both hardness and wear resistance of the aluminum alloy were increased
by grain refinement. Greater increases in these properties were obtained in case of
nanocomposite. Remarkable improvements in these properties were achieved in the
case of grain refined nanocomposite.