Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing an alloy containing titanium carbide particles, the method comprising thoroughly dispersing carbon powder particles into a metal melt, and causing the dispersed carbon particles to react with titanium within the metal melt so as to produce a dispersion of fine particles comprising titanium carbide within the melt. A preferred use for alloys produced by the invention is as a grain refiner for aluminium-based metals, especially those containing zirconium, chromium and/or manganese, which tend to poison current titanium-boron-aluminium grain refiners.

Abstract: The invention provides a grain refinement method for copper-based metals, which method can be applied to a range of different types of such metals. In accordance with the method, one arranges that a melt of the metal to be grain refined contains each of the following components:(a) titanium and/or zirconium;(b) at least one of: lithium, sodium, potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium;(c) at least one of: scandium, yttrium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium, rhenium, iron, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, platinum, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, mercury and the rare earth elements; and(d) at least one of: aluminium, gallium, indium, silicon, germanium, tin, lead, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, sulphur, selenium and tellurium;and solidifies the melt to produce grain refinement of the copper-based metal. The invention also provides grain refiners for practicing the method.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing an alloy containing titanium carbide particles, the method comprising thoroughly dispersing carbon powder particles into a metal melt, and causing the dispersed carbon particles to react with titanium within the metal melt so as to produce a dispersion of fine particles comprising titanium carbide within the melt. A preferred use for alloys produced by the invention is as a grain refiner for aluminium-based metals, especially those containing zirconium, chromium and/or manganese, which tend to poison current titanium-boron-aluminium grain refiners.

Abstract: The invention provides a grain refinement method for copper-based metals, which method can be applied to a range of different types of such metals.