Industrial-Scale Assessment of Grain Refinement Efficiency in al-6201 Alloy Using al-5ti-1b Additions

Objective: To investigate, under industrial rotary casting conditions, the influence of chemical inoculation (Al-5Ti-1B) and rotational flow on the structural and mechanical behavior of the Al-6201 alloy, aiming to understand how heterogeneous nucleation and thermal control affect grain refinement and hardness. Method: Trapezoidal billets were cast by industrial rotary casting under specific conditions. The pouring temperature was reduced from 750 °C to 700 °C to evaluate the effect of overheating. Characterization included macro- and microstructural analysis and Rockwell F hardness tests for mechanical behavior. Results and Discussion: The addition of TiB₂/Al₃Ti and the lower pouring temperature promoted early nucleation, refined the grains (~68%), and suppressed columnar growth. Despite this, hardness decreased, indicating behavior opposite to Hall-Petch, with inoculation and rotational flow favoring structural uniformity. Research Implications: The results guide the adjustment of industrial solidification routes in Al-Mg-Si alloys, allowing to produce billets/ingots with fewer defects, greater dimensional stability, and a more homogeneous microstructure for electrical and structural applications. Originality/Value: The study integrates chemical inoculation and rotary solidification on an industrial scale, quantifying its impact (-68% in grain size) and elucidating the occurrence of inverse Hall-Petch under production conditions-offering practical insights for optimizing pouring temperature, refiner dosage, and flow control in industrial Al-6201 processes.