Aluminium master alloys and intermetallic additions (Al-Ni, Al-Ti, Al-Co, Al-Mn, Al-Zr) Al master alloys

Aluminium master alloys: AlNi10 (Ni 9.0 to 11.0 %, Fe max 0.20 %, Si max 0.15 %, Al balance)

Master alloys are concentrated aluminium alloys that are melted into an aluminium furnace charge to add an element in a controlled way.

10 sources · Updated 2026-10-26 · CC BY 4.0

Evidence level

2 of 5

Lab-measured

Nucleation of grains

820

Melting point of the Al-Mn product

880

Nickel products

9

Recipe, share of the weight

  • Al not statedAluminium
  • Ni not statedNickel
  • Ti not statedTitanium
  • B not statedBoron
  • Co not statedCobalt
  • Mn not statedManganese
  • Zr not statedZirconium

Best for

Melting aluminium alloys where a fine grain structure or a controlled addition of Ni, Mn or Zr is needed (the Al-Ti-B and Al-Zr refiners; the Al-Mn and Al-Ni additions)

Weakest at

These are intermediate alloys, not structural materials. The sources read here give no density, no mechanical properties and no corrosion test for any of these master alloys, and the Al-Zr and Al-Mn densities are printed without a unit

Risk at a glance

  • People None found. No GHS hazard classification in the SDSs read
  • If it fails Moderate. Molten metal contacting water
  • Corrosion No data. No corrosion data recorded

Quick facts: Al master alloys

Key properties of Al master alloys
PropertyValueBasis
Melting point880 °C1 sourced value

What is the melting point of Aluminium master alloys?

Aluminium master alloys has a melting point of 880 °C. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.

What is Aluminium master alloys used for?

Uses recorded in the sources include Grain refiner added to the melt during casting of aluminium alloys (Al-5Ti-1B); Master alloy charged into a furnace to add an alloying element to an aluminium melt (Al-Zr and Al-Mn).

Why it exists

A master alloy lets a melt receive a precise addition of an element that may be hard to add in pure form. Al-Ti-B is the best-known grain refiner: its Al3Ti and TiB2 particles act as nucleation sites when the aluminium solidifies (Huang 2018). The Al-Ni, Al-Mn, Al-Zr and Al-Co products are sold as the same kind of concentrated addition, and their suppliers print composition limits and, for one of them, a melting point.

Where it's used

Grain refining in casting

The 2018 study made Al-5Ti-1B by the fluoride salt process and added it to an Al-4.4 % Cu melt to test its refining efficiency. The best product was held at 820 °C for 30 min (Huang 2018).

Alloy charge in the furnace

The Al-Zr and Al-Mn SDSs both tell the user to keep the product dry before it is charged into a furnace, so the master alloy is melted into the aluminium charge.

Recipe

Aluminium master alloys: AlNi10 (Ni 9.0 to 11.0 %, Fe max 0.20 %, Si max 0.15 %, Al balance); AlNi20 (Ni 18.0 to 22.0 %, Al balance); Al-Mn (Mn 5 to 35 %, Al 65 to 95 %); Al-Zr (Zr 5 %, Al 95 %); Al-5Ti-1B (Al3Ti and TiB2 particles in an aluminium matrix); Al-Co (cobalt and aluminium, with no composition printed)

Master alloys combine a base metal with a concentrated addition. In this family the base is aluminium, and the added element is nickel, titanium with boron, cobalt, manganese or zirconium. The Al-Ti-B refiner is a mix of Al3Ti and TiB2 particles dispersed in aluminium (Huang 2018). The SDS-based products are listed by their printed composition.

What Al master alloys is made of
IngredientShare of the weightWhat it does
Aluminium Al not stated The matrix and the balance of every product. The SDSs print it as the balance in the composition tables.
Nickel Ni not stated Alloying addition in AlNi10 (9.0 to 11.0 %) and AlNi20 (18.0 to 22.0 %) as printed by Stanford Advanced Materials.
Titanium Ti not stated Forms Al3Ti particles in Al-Ti-B. The Ti:B mole ratio of 3 to 5 is quoted from Huang 2018; the wt% is not printed in the text read here.
Boron B not stated Forms TiB2 particles in Al-Ti-B, which act as nucleation sites in the melt (Huang 2018). No boron composition is printed in the text read.
Cobalt Co not stated Named in the Al-Co product (Stanford Advanced Materials SDS). Its percentage is not printed.
Manganese Mn not stated Alloying addition in the Al-Mn product: 5 to 35 % by the NextSDS composition table.
Zirconium Zr not stated Alloying and grain-refining addition in the Al-Zr product: 5 % by the NextSDS composition table.

Weight shares are as printed in the sources.

What it can do

Nucleation of grains

820

measured

The 2018 study held the Al-5Ti-1B product at 820 °C for 30 min and found the best refining efficiency. Short holding times gave inadequate TiB2 particles, and prolonged holding left Fe-containing particles along the grain boundaries (Huang 2018).

Melting point of the Al-Mn product

880

measured

The Al-Mn master alloy (5 to 35 % Mn) melts at 880 °C, per its NextSDS sheet.

Nickel products

9

measured

AlNi10 holds 9.0 to 11.0 % Ni and AlNi20 holds 18.0 to 22.0 % Ni, per the Stanford Advanced Materials page. The page states its values are theoretical and for reference only.

How it compares

The sources here give composition and melting data for individual products, but no shared property sheet. The Al-Mn master alloy melts at 880 °C, per its SDS. Neither the Al-Zr nor the Al-Mn SDS prints a density with a unit, so a density comparison is not possible from these sources.

The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.

Benchmarks
MeasurementAl master alloys60617075-T6202450525XXX2195 (Al-Cu-Li)Al10502011201420172017A221923192618A300331034047501950565083AlMg2AlMg36013606360826101AA7050AA8011Au-Al IMCs
Thermal behavior and safety
Melting point, Al-Mn master alloy (Mn 5 to 35 %)880 °C1no data532 °Cno data607.2 to 649 °Cno data1020 degF660 °C645 to 657 °C540 °C535 °C510 °C510 °C543 °C543 to 643 °C549 °C655 °C655 °C1068 to 1080 °F575 to 630 °C565 to 640 °C570 °C605 to 650 °C590 to 645 °C579 °C600 °C575 °C1090 °F490 °C640 to 655 °Cno data
Temperature behavior
Holding temperature for Al-5Ti-1B (optimum)820 °C10no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Holding temperature range studied for Al-5Ti-1B780 to 880 °C11no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Other measurements
Zirconium content, Al-Zr master alloy5 %2no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Manganese content range, Al-Mn master alloy5 to 35 %3no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Nickel content range, AlNi10 master alloy9 to 11 %4no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Nickel content range, AlNi20 master alloy18 to 22 %5no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Iron content, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)< 0.2 %6no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Silicon content, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)< 0.15 %7no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Any other single element, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)< 0.03 %8no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Total impurities, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)< 0.1 %9no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data

Why choose it, and why not

Good for

  • Grain refining of aluminium castings with Al-Ti-B, where the 2018 study found the best result at 820 °C for 30 min.
  • Adding manganese, zirconium or nickel to an aluminium melt as a concentrated alloy with a printed composition.

Watch out for

  • Ti:B ratio and TiB2 morphology matter. Too short a holding time leaves too few TiB2 particles, and prolonged holding leaves Fe-containing particles (Huang 2018).
  • The composition of the Al-Co product is not printed in the SDS, so it cannot be specified from these sources.
  • No corrosion data and no space-use data were found for any product in this family.

The family is a set of intermediate alloys, not structural materials. The sources support the Al-Ti-B holding conditions, the Al-Ni composition ranges and the melting point of the Al-Mn product, but not densities, corrosion or space use, so the file is a partial profile.

Technical details

For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.

Notes

The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.

Notes for the numbered rows
#MeasurementMethodConditionsCaveat
1Melting point, Al-Mn master alloy (Mn 5 to 35 %)Value printed in the physical properties section of a supplier safety data sheetproduct Aluminium-manganese master alloy, Mn 5 to 35 %, Al 65 to 95 % (SDS composition)—
2Zirconium content, Al-Zr master alloyValue printed in the composition table of a supplier safety data sheetproduct Aluminium-zirconium master alloy, Al 95 % balancebasis composition as printed, percentage by weight not stated in the sheet—
3Manganese content range, Al-Mn master alloyRange printed in the composition table of a supplier safety data sheetproduct Aluminium-manganese master alloy, Al 65 to 95 %basis range as printed—
4Nickel content range, AlNi10 master alloyRange printed in the specification table of a supplier product pageproduct AlNi10basis range printed in the Ni column; the page states the values are based on theoretical data and are for reference only—
5Nickel content range, AlNi20 master alloyRange printed in the specification table of a supplier product pageproduct AlNi20basis range printed in the Ni column; theoretical data, for reference only—
6Iron content, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product pageproduct AlNi10basis maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading—
7Silicon content, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product pageproduct AlNi10basis maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading—
8Any other single element, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product pageproduct AlNi10basis maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading—
9Total impurities, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product pageproduct AlNi10basis maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading—
10Holding temperature for Al-5Ti-1B (optimum)Value stated as the optimum in the abstract of a 2018 research paperalloy Al-5Ti-1B made by the fluoride salt processholding time 30 mintest grain refining efficiency on Al-4.4 wt% Cubasis best of the held samples in the study—
11Holding temperature range studied for Al-5Ti-1BRange stated in the abstract of a 2018 research paperalloy Al-5Ti-1B made by the fluoride salt processholding time 10 to 90 min—

Risks and side effects

Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.

For people

The two NextSDS sheets and the Stanford Co-Al sheet print no H-codes, and the Stanford Co-Al sheet says the substance is not classified under CLP. None of these sources gives a toxicology profile for the product, and the nickel and cobalt GHS data could not be read in this run.

Dust and fines
The Al-Zr sheet says not to breathe dust or smoke. The Al-Mn sheet says to avoid building up large quantities of fines, and it notes that a finely divided powder may be flammable.
Water contact
The Al-Zr sheet says to avoid contact between molten material and water.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry, well ventilated area and keep the product dry until it is charged into the furnace.

At the furnace

Handling a master alloy at the furnace involves molten metal. The SDSs name the risks, but they do not print the consequences.

Moisture and incompatible chemicals
The Al-Mn sheet says decomposition may produce harmful fumes and hydrogen gas. It lists strong acids, acid chlorides, oxidising agents, halogens and phosphorus as incompatible.
Protection
The Al-Mn sheet calls for gloves and safety goggles during handling.

Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.

Failure risks

Failure risks
FailureTrigger and consequence
Molten metal contacting watermoderate severityPouring or charging the alloy into a melt that is wetThe NextSDS Al-Zr sheet warns to avoid contact between molten material and water but does not print the consequence.
Reaction with moisture or incompatible chemicalsmoderate severityContact with air and moisture, strong acids, acid chlorides, oxidising agents, halogens or phosphorusDecomposition may produce harmful fumes and hydrogen gas, per the Al-Mn sheet.

Handling and storage

  • Do not breathe dust or smoke. Store in a dry area (Al-Zr sheet).
  • Keep the material dry before charging it into a furnace, wear gloves and safety goggles, and avoid accumulating large quantities of fines (Al-Mn sheet).
  • Keep the material in a cool, well ventilated, dry area until it is charged into the furnace (Al-Mn sheet).

Supply and geography

How common the raw materials are and where they come from.

Aluminium (primary smelter metal, feeds every master alloy in this profile)

Top producers (2025)
China 60.8%, India 5.7%, Canada 4.5%
Recycling
USGS: about 3.6 million tons of aluminum were recovered from purchased scrap in the United States in 2025 (United States only, not the world).

Titanium (titanium sponge, feeds Al-Ti-B)

Top producers (2025)
China 70.3%, Japan 14.3%, Russia 6.8%, Kazakhstan 4.3%
Recycling
USGS: consumption data for titanium scrap in the titanium metal industry were withheld; limited survey responses.

Nickel (feeds Al-Ni)

Top producers (2025)
Indonesia 66.7%, Philippines 6.9%, Russia 5.1%, Canada 3.6%
Recycling
USGS: most secondary nickel was in the form of nickel content of stainless-steel scrap.

Cobalt (feeds Al-Co)

Top producers (2025)
Congo (Kinshasa) 74.2%, Indonesia 14.2%, Russia 2.5%
Recycling
USGS: in 2025, cobalt content of purchased scrap represented 25% of estimated cobalt consumption.

Manganese (feeds Al-Mn)

Top producers (2025)
South Africa 38%, Gabon 25%, Ghana 10%, Australia 8%
Recycling
USGS: manganese was recycled incidentally as a constituent of ferrous and nonferrous scrap.