Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thermodynamic and Kinetic Analyses of the Removal of Impurity Titanium and Vanadium from Molten Aluminum for Electrical Conductor Applications

  • Original Research Article
  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Impurity levels of titanium (Ti) and vanadium (V) depreciate the electrical conductivity of aluminum (Al) when present in solution. Industrially, a boron (B) based alloy is introduced to remove these impurities from the Al melt as borides. Subsequently, these boride particles are separated from the Al melt by gravity settling or filtration, rendering much improved electrical conductivity to the solidified Al material. However, the kinetics of V removal from molten Al in the presence of Ti is not well delineated yet. Additionally, the mechanism for the formation of TiB2 and VB2 in molten Al remains unclear, especially for the formation of VB2 in the presence of Ti. In this study, the kinetics of Ti and V removal from molten Al is investigated in detail by inoculating an Al–0.50 pct Ti–0.50 pct V alloy melt with an Al–5 pct B master alloy at 750 ± 10 °C. Samples are taken at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes during the boron treatment. Then, the collected samples are characterized for both the reaction products (TiB2/VB2) and the change in Ti and V concentrations in the molten Al alloy. Reaction products of TiB2 and VB2 in the form of boride cluster rings are observed. The TiB2/VB2 cluster rings are less dense than those observed in the Al–1 pct V–0.45 pct B alloy. The reaction rate between Ti and V with B/AlB2 is rapid, which leads to the formation of cluster rings in the first 5-minute reaction period. The mass transfer coefficients (km) of Ti and V in the molten Al alloy at 750 ± 10 °C are determined to be 5.13 × 10−4 and 3.00 × 10−4 m/s, respectively. These calculated values of km are within the range of 10−3 to 10−4 m/s for typical solid–liquid metallurgical reactions. Therefore, the reaction between Ti/V with B/AlB2 can be assumed to be predominately controlled by the mass transfer of Ti/V through the Al melt. The removal rates of Ti and V are almost the same in the molten Al–0.50 pct Ti–0.50 pct V–0.235 pct B alloy at 750 °C, and they exhibited a strong linear relationship with each other, although thermodynamic predictions suggest that in the presence of Ti, there should be no removal of V in the form of VB2. The reasons are discussed in detail based on kinetic analyses. The findings of this study provide an important scientific basis for boron treatment of molten Al alloys for improved electrical conductivity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. S. Karabay and I. Uzman: Mater. Manuf. Process., 2005, vol. 20, pp. 231–43. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. P.S. Cooper and M.A. Kearns: ICAA5., 1996, vol. 217, pp. 141–6. .

    Google Scholar 

  3. G.G. Gauthier: J. Inst. Met., 1936, vol. 59, pp. 129–50. .

    Google Scholar 

  4. W.A. Dean: Aluminum., 1967, vol. 1, p. 174. .

    Google Scholar 

  5. G. Dube: European Patent No. 0112024, 1983.

  6. W. Stiller and T. Ingenlath: Aluminium (Engl. Ed.)., 1984, vol. 60, pp. 577–80. .

    Google Scholar 

  7. G.Q. Wang, S.H. Liu, C.M. Li, and Q. Gao: Trans. Nonferr. Met. Soc., 2002, vol. 12, pp. 1112–6. .

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. W.C. Setzer and G.W. Boone: TMS Light Metals. vol. 1992, TMS, Warrendale, 1991, pp. 837–44.

    Google Scholar 

  9. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rhamdhani, G.A. Brooks, and J. Grandfield: TMS Light Metals. TMS, Warrendale, 2014, pp. 963–8.

    Google Scholar 

  10. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rhamdhani, G. Brooks, J. Grandfield, J. Mitchell, and D. Cameron: Proc. EMC (Eur. Metall. Conf.), 2011, pp. 825–38.

  11. A. Khaliq: PhD Thesis, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, 2013.

  12. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rhamdhani, G. Brooks, and J. Grandfield: 2nd Int. Conf. Aerosp. Sci. Eng. (ICASE), 2011, Islamabad, Pakistan, pp. 1–7.

  13. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rhamdhani, G.A. Brooks, and J. Grandfield: High Temp. Process. Symp. (HTPS), 2011, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.

  14. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rhamdhani, G.A. Brooks, and J. Grandfield: High Temp. Process. Symp. (HTPS), 2013, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.

  15. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rhamdhani, G. Brooks, and J. Grandfield: TMS Light Metals. TMS, Warrendale, PA, 2011, pp. 751–6.

    Google Scholar 

  16. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rhamdhani, G.A. Brooks, and J. Grandfield: Metall. Mater. Trans. B., 2014, vol. 45B, pp. 784–94. .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rhamdhani, G.A. Brooks, and J. Grandfield: Can. Metall. Q., 2016, vol. 55, pp. 161–72. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. S. Karabay and I. Uzman: J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2005, vol. 160, pp. 174–82. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. R. Cook, M.A. Kearns, and P.S. Cooper: Light Metals. TMS, Warrendale, 1997, pp. 809–14.

    Google Scholar 

  20. X. Cui, Y. Wu, H. Cui, G. Zhang, B. Zhou, and X. Liu: J. Alloys Compd., 2018, vol. 735, pp. 62–7. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. T.L. Bao-gui and H. Chong-qi: Electrical Wires and Cables (in Chinese), 1984, pp. 36–40.

  22. M. Easton and D. Stjohn: Metall. Mater. Trans. A., 1999, vol. 30A, pp. 1613–23. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. M. Easton and D. StJohn: Metall. Mater. Trans. A., 1999, vol. 30A, pp. 1625–33. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rafiq, H.T. Ali, F. Ahmed, S. Mehmood, J. Grandfielde, and S.A. Ranjha: J. Min. Metall. Sect. B., 2017, vol. 53, pp. 75–81. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rhamdhani, G.A. Brooks, and J. Grandfield: Metall. Mater. Trans. B., 2016, vol. 47B, pp. 595–607. .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rhamdhani, G.A. Brooks, and J. Grandfield: Metall. Mater. Trans. B., 2014, vol. 45B, pp. 752–68. .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. C.W. Bale, E. Bélisle, P. Chartrand, S.A. Decterov, G. Eriksson, K. Hack, I.-H. Jung, Y.-B. Kang, J. Melançon, A.D. Pelton, C. Robelin, and S. Petersen: Calphad., 2009, vol. 33, pp. 295–311. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. C.W. Bale, P. Chartrand, S.A. Degterov, G. Eriksson, K. Hack, R. Ben Mahfoud, J. Melançon, A.D. Pelton, and S. Petersen: Calphad., 2002, vol. 26, pp. 189–228. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. A.D. Pelton, et al.: Metall. Mater. Trans. B., 2000, vol. 31B, pp. 651–9. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. M. Hillert, et al.: Metall. Mater. Trans. A., 1985, vol. 16A, pp. 261–6. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. F.H. Hayes: Res. Adv. Tech., 1989, vol. 80, pp. 361–5. .

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. H. Okamoto: J. Phase Equilib., 2001, vol. 22, p. 86. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. H.T. Ali, A. Khaliq, and M. Yusuf: Trans. Nonferr. Met. Soc. China, 2020, pp. 1–27.

  34. A. Khaliq, S. Mehmood, S.A. Ranjha, M.A. Javed, and K.S. Munir: Microsc. Microanal., 2018, vol. 24, pp. 2262–3. .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. R.J. Pomfret and P. Grievson: Can. Metall. Q., 1983, vol. 22, pp. 287–99. .

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. M.A. Rhamdhani: PhD Thesis, McMaster University, 2005, p. 216.

  37. A. Khaliq, M.A. Rhamdhani, G.A. Brooks, and J. Grandfield: Metall. Mater. Trans. B., 2014, vol. 45B, pp. 769–83. .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. T.A. Engh: Principles of Metal Refining. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  39. C.J. Simensen and C. Berg: Aluminium Dusseldorf., 1980, vol. 56, pp. 335–40. .

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research has been funded by Scientific Research Deanship at University of Ha’il, Saudi Arabia through Project Number RG-20 041.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Engineering, University of Ha’il, P.O. 2440, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia

    Abdul Khaliq, A. S. Alghamdi, Wajdi Rajhi, Tayyab Subhani, Mohamed Ramadan & K. S. Abdel Halim

  2. School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia

    Abdul Khaliq & Ma Qian

  3. Laboratoire de Mécanique, Matériaux et Procédés LR99ES05, Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Ingénieurs de Tunis, Université de Tunis, 5 Avenue Taha Hussein, Montfleury, 1008, Tunis, Tunisia

    Wajdi Rajhi

  4. Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI), 87 Helwan, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed Ramadan & K. S. Abdel Halim

Authors
  1. Abdul Khaliq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. S. Alghamdi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wajdi Rajhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tayyab Subhani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mohamed Ramadan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. K. S. Abdel Halim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ma Qian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Abdul Khaliq or Ma Qian.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Manuscript submitted January 7, 2021; accepted May 26, 2021.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Khaliq, A., Alghamdi, A.S., Rajhi, W. et al. Thermodynamic and Kinetic Analyses of the Removal of Impurity Titanium and Vanadium from Molten Aluminum for Electrical Conductor Applications. Metall Mater Trans B 52, 3130–3141 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-021-02241-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-021-02241-3

Search

Navigation