TEM analysis of the TiC particles in aluminium containing AlTi3C0.15 grain refiner

Determination of orientation relationships between TiC particles and the surrounding aluminium matrix using transmission electron microscopy is the main objective of this study. The melt of the commercial-purity aluminium and the commercial grain refiner AlTi3C0.15 were used to prepare experimental samples. Two orientation relationships between aluminium and TiC were found: [111](alpha Al) parallel to [111](TiC) and ((1) over bar 10)(alpha Al) parallel to ((1) over bar 10)(TiC), and [114](alpha Al) parallel to [110](TiC) and ((1) over bar 10)(alpha Al) parallel to ((1) over bar 10)(TiC). The {111} planes of TiC and aluminium were found to be parallel what indicates the epitaxial nucleation of aluminium on {111} planes of TiC.