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.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
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
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 880 °C | 1 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.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What 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.
| Measurement | Al master alloys | 6061 | 7075-T6 | 2024 | 5052 | 5XXX | 2195 (Al-Cu-Li) | Al | 1050 | 2011 | 2014 | 2017 | 2017A | 2219 | 2319 | 2618A | 3003 | 3103 | 4047 | 5019 | 5056 | 5083 | AlMg2 | AlMg3 | 6013 | 6063 | 6082 | 6101 | AA7050 | AA8011 | Au-Al IMCs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Melting point, Al-Mn master alloy (Mn 5 to 35 %) | 880 °C1 | no data | 532 °C | no data | 607.2 to 649 °C | no data | 1020 degF | 660 °C | 645 to 657 °C | 540 °C | 535 °C | 510 °C | 510 °C | 543 °C | 543 to 643 °C | 549 °C | 655 °C | 655 °C | 1068 to 1080 °F | 575 to 630 °C | 565 to 640 °C | 570 °C | 605 to 650 °C | 590 to 645 °C | 579 °C | 600 °C | 575 °C | 1090 °F | 490 °C | 640 to 655 °C | no data |
| Temperature behavior | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Holding temperature for Al-5Ti-1B (optimum) | 820 °C10 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Holding temperature range studied for Al-5Ti-1B | 780 to 880 °C11 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Other measurements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zirconium content, Al-Zr master alloy | 5 %2 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Manganese content range, Al-Mn master alloy | 5 to 35 %3 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Nickel content range, AlNi10 master alloy | 9 to 11 %4 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Nickel content range, AlNi20 master alloy | 18 to 22 %5 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Iron content, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum) | < 0.2 %6 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Silicon content, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum) | < 0.15 %7 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Any other single element, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum) | < 0.03 %8 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Total impurities, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum) | < 0.1 %9 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no 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.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melting point, Al-Mn master alloy (Mn 5 to 35 %) | Value printed in the physical properties section of a supplier safety data sheet | product Aluminium-manganese master alloy, Mn 5 to 35 %, Al 65 to 95 % (SDS composition) | — |
| 2 | Zirconium content, Al-Zr master alloy | Value printed in the composition table of a supplier safety data sheet | product Aluminium-zirconium master alloy, Al 95 % balancebasis composition as printed, percentage by weight not stated in the sheet | — |
| 3 | Manganese content range, Al-Mn master alloy | Range printed in the composition table of a supplier safety data sheet | product Aluminium-manganese master alloy, Al 65 to 95 %basis range as printed | — |
| 4 | Nickel content range, AlNi10 master alloy | Range printed in the specification table of a supplier product page | product AlNi10basis range printed in the Ni column; the page states the values are based on theoretical data and are for reference only | — |
| 5 | Nickel content range, AlNi20 master alloy | Range printed in the specification table of a supplier product page | product AlNi20basis range printed in the Ni column; theoretical data, for reference only | — |
| 6 | Iron content, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum) | Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product page | product AlNi10basis maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading | — |
| 7 | Silicon content, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum) | Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product page | product AlNi10basis maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading | — |
| 8 | Any other single element, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum) | Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product page | product AlNi10basis maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading | — |
| 9 | Total impurities, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum) | Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product page | product AlNi10basis maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading | — |
| 10 | Holding temperature for Al-5Ti-1B (optimum) | Value stated as the optimum in the abstract of a 2018 research paper | alloy 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 | — |
| 11 | Holding temperature range studied for Al-5Ti-1B | Range stated in the abstract of a 2018 research paper | alloy 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 | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Molten metal contacting watermoderate severity | Pouring 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 severity | Contact 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.
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
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spore: profile
id: aluminium-intermetallic-alloys
spore_version: 0.2
family: aluminium-alloys
name: Aluminium master alloys and intermetallic additions (Al-Ni, Al-Ti, Al-Co, Al-Mn, Al-Zr)
abbreviation: Al master alloys
role: grain refiners and alloying additions for melting aluminium alloys
category: metals
type: aluminium
summary: |
Master alloys are concentrated aluminium alloys that are melted into an aluminium furnace charge to add an element in a controlled way. This profile covers five groups: Al-Ni (AlNi10 and AlNi20 in the Stanford Advanced Materials range), Al-Ti-B (the grain refiner Al-5Ti-1B, whose Al3Ti and TiB2 particles nucleate grains), Al-Co, Al-Mn (a hardener sold at 5 to 35 wt% Mn) and Al-Zr (a grain refiner with 5 wt% Zr in one safety data sheet). The sources read in this run give a melting point for the Al-Mn product, composition limits for the Al-Ni products, and the holding conditions that gave the best Al-5Ti-1B in a 2018 study. They give no density, no measured corrosion data and no space use for any of these products.
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
identity:
formula: '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)'
cas: ''
source: samaterials-alni
where: Specification table, Chemical Compositions (%) block for AlNi10 and AlNi20; Al-Mn and Al-Zr composition in Section 03 of each NextSDS sheet; Al-5Ti-1B phases in the Introduction of Huang 2018
designations: []
tags:
environments: []
stresses: []
applications:
- structures
properties:
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point, Al-Mn master alloy (Mn 5 to 35 %)
value: 880
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
product: Aluminium-manganese master alloy, Mn 5 to 35 %, Al 65 to 95 % (SDS composition)
method: Value printed in the physical properties section of a supplier safety data sheet
status: ground
source: nextsds-almn
where: Section 09, row Melting point
- benchmark: zirconium_content
label: Zirconium content, Al-Zr master alloy
value: 5
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: Aluminium-zirconium master alloy, Al 95 % balance
basis: composition as printed, percentage by weight not stated in the sheet
method: Value printed in the composition table of a supplier safety data sheet
status: ground
source: nextsds-alzr
where: Section 03, Zr row
- benchmark: manganese_content
label: Manganese content range, Al-Mn master alloy
value: 5
value_high: 35
bound: range
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: Aluminium-manganese master alloy, Al 65 to 95 %
basis: range as printed
method: Range printed in the composition table of a supplier safety data sheet
status: ground
source: nextsds-almn
where: Section 03, Mn row
- benchmark: nickel_content
label: Nickel content range, AlNi10 master alloy
value: 9
value_high: 11
bound: range
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: AlNi10
basis: range printed in the Ni column; the page states the values are based on theoretical data and are for reference only
method: Range printed in the specification table of a supplier product page
status: ground
source: samaterials-alni
where: Specification table, row AlNi10, column Ni
- benchmark: nickel_content
label: Nickel content range, AlNi20 master alloy
value: 18
value_high: 22
bound: range
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: AlNi20
basis: range printed in the Ni column; theoretical data, for reference only
method: Range printed in the specification table of a supplier product page
status: ground
source: samaterials-alni
where: Specification table, row AlNi20, column Ni
- benchmark: iron_content
label: Iron content, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)
value: 0.2
bound: upper
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: AlNi10
basis: maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading
method: Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product page
status: ground
source: samaterials-alni
where: Specification table, row AlNi10, column Fe
- benchmark: silicon_content
label: Silicon content, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)
value: 0.15
bound: upper
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: AlNi10
basis: maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading
method: Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product page
status: ground
source: samaterials-alni
where: Specification table, row AlNi10, column Si
- benchmark: other_single_element_content
label: Any other single element, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)
value: 0.03
bound: upper
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: AlNi10
basis: maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading
method: Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product page
status: ground
source: samaterials-alni
where: Specification table, row AlNi10, column Other Single
- benchmark: total_impurities
label: Total impurities, AlNi10 master alloy (maximum)
value: 0.1
bound: upper
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: AlNi10
basis: maximum as printed under the Chemical Compositions heading
method: Maximum printed in the specification table of a supplier product page
status: ground
source: samaterials-alni
where: Specification table, row AlNi10, column Total Impurities
- benchmark: holding_temperature
label: Holding temperature for Al-5Ti-1B (optimum)
value: 820
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
alloy: Al-5Ti-1B made by the fluoride salt process
holding_time: 30 min
test: grain refining efficiency on Al-4.4 wt% Cu
basis: best of the held samples in the study
method: Value stated as the optimum in the abstract of a 2018 research paper
status: ground
source: huang2018
where: Abstract, final sentence; Conclusions
- benchmark: holding_temperature
label: Holding temperature range studied for Al-5Ti-1B
value: 780
value_high: 880
bound: range
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
alloy: Al-5Ti-1B made by the fluoride salt process
holding_time: 10 to 90 min
method: Range stated in the abstract of a 2018 research paper
status: ground
source: huang2018
where: Abstract, first sentence
corrosion: []
risks:
hazards:
- text: The Stanford Advanced Materials SDS for a cobalt-aluminium alloy (revised 05/15/2017) states the substance is not classified as hazardous to health or the environment under the CLP regulation. The SDS names cobalt and aluminium as the components and gives no percentages.
ghs: []
source: samaterials-co-al-sds
where: Section 2 and Section 3
- text: The NextSDS sheet for the Al-Zr master alloy (Al 95 %, Zr 5 %) prints 'Classified no signal word' and lists no H-codes (Section 02). Its composition table marks both components as not hazardous.
ghs: []
source: nextsds-alzr
where: Section 02 and Section 03
- text: The NextSDS sheet for the Al-Mn master alloy prints no H-codes (Section 02) and marks both components as not hazardous (Section 03). It notes that a finely divided powder may be flammable (Section 09).
ghs: []
source: nextsds-almn
where: Section 02, Section 03 and Section 09
failure_risks:
- mode: Molten metal contacting water
trigger: Pouring or charging the alloy into a melt that is wet
consequence: The NextSDS Al-Zr sheet warns to avoid contact between molten material and water but does not print the consequence.
severity: moderate
source: nextsds-alzr
where: Section 07, Handling
- mode: Reaction with moisture or incompatible chemicals
trigger: Contact with air and moisture, strong acids, acid chlorides, oxidising agents, halogens or phosphorus
consequence: Decomposition may produce harmful fumes and hydrogen gas, per the Al-Mn sheet.
severity: moderate
source: nextsds-almn
where: Section 10, Chemical stability and reactivity
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: Do not breathe dust or smoke. Store in a dry area (Al-Zr sheet).
source: nextsds-alzr
where: Section 07, Handling and Storage
- text: 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).
source: nextsds-almn
where: Section 07, Handling and Storage
- text: Keep the material in a cool, well ventilated, dry area until it is charged into the furnace (Al-Mn sheet).
source: nextsds-almn
where: Section 07, Storage
mitigations: []
uses:
- application: structures
device: Grain refiner added to the melt during casting of aluminium alloys (Al-5Ti-1B)
example: The 2018 study made Al-5Ti-1B by the fluoride salt process and tested it on Al-4.4 wt% Cu. Its refining efficiency was best when the alloy was held at 820 °C for 30 min.
source: huang2018
where: Abstract; Introduction (use as a grain refiner in casting)
- application: structures
device: Master alloy charged into a furnace to add an alloying element to an aluminium melt (Al-Zr and Al-Mn)
example: The two NextSDS sheets for the Al-Zr and Al-Mn products both tell the user to keep the material dry before charging it into the furnace.
source: nextsds-almn
where: Section 07, Handling and Storage (Al-Mn); Section 07 (Al-Zr)
supply:
- subject: Aluminium (primary smelter metal, feeds every master alloy in this profile)
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 60.8
year: 2025
- country: India
share_percent: 5.7
year: 2025
- country: Canada
share_percent: 4.5
year: 2025
critical_lists: []
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).'
substitutes: []
source: usgs-mcs2026-aluminum
where: World Smelter Production table, 2025e (world total 74,000 thousand t; shares calculated by Space Mushroom against the world total)
- subject: Titanium (titanium sponge, feeds Al-Ti-B)
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 70.3
year: 2025
- country: Japan
share_percent: 14.3
year: 2025
- country: Russia
share_percent: 6.8
year: 2025
- country: Kazakhstan
share_percent: 4.3
year: 2025
critical_lists: []
recycling: 'USGS: consumption data for titanium scrap in the titanium metal industry were withheld; limited survey responses.'
substitutes: []
source: usgs-mcs2026-titanium
where: World Sponge Metal Production table, 2025e (world total 370,000 t; shares calculated by Space Mushroom). The table covers sponge, not ore.
- subject: Nickel (feeds Al-Ni)
producers:
- country: Indonesia
share_percent: 66.7
year: 2025
- country: Philippines
share_percent: 6.9
year: 2025
- country: Russia
share_percent: 5.1
year: 2025
- country: Canada
share_percent: 3.6
year: 2025
critical_lists: []
recycling: 'USGS: most secondary nickel was in the form of nickel content of stainless-steel scrap.'
substitutes: []
source: usgs-mcs2026-nickel
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e (world total 3,900,000 t; shares calculated by Space Mushroom)
- subject: Cobalt (feeds Al-Co)
producers:
- country: Congo (Kinshasa)
share_percent: 74.2
year: 2025
- country: Indonesia
share_percent: 14.2
year: 2025
- country: Russia
share_percent: 2.5
year: 2025
critical_lists: []
recycling: 'USGS: in 2025, cobalt content of purchased scrap represented 25% of estimated cobalt consumption.'
substitutes: []
source: usgs-mcs2026-cobalt
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025 (world total 310,000 t; shares calculated by Space Mushroom)
- subject: Manganese (feeds Al-Mn)
producers:
- country: South Africa
share_percent: 38
year: 2025
- country: Gabon
share_percent: 25
year: 2025
- country: Ghana
share_percent: 10
year: 2025
- country: Australia
share_percent: 8
year: 2025
critical_lists: []
recycling: 'USGS: manganese was recycled incidentally as a constituent of ferrous and nonferrous scrap.'
substitutes: []
source: usgs-mcs2026-manganese
where: World Mine Production (manganese content) and Reserves table, 2025e (world total 20,000 t; shares calculated by Space Mushroom)
documents:
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Titanium and Titanium Dioxide'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-titanium.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Nickel'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-nickel.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Cobalt'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-cobalt.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-manganese.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Aluminum'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-aluminum.pdf
year: 2026
- title: Effects of holding conditions on microstructure of Al-5Ti-1B and its refining efficiency on Al-Cu alloy (AMM 2018, 2, 16, Huang)
type: paper
url: https://www.czasopisma.pan.pl//Content/106670/PDF/AMM-2018-2-16-Huang.pdf
year: 2018
- title: 'Aluminium-zirconium master alloy: safety data sheet (NextSDS)'
type: sds
url: https://nextsds.com/sds/en/281331501269666/aluminium-zirconium-master-alloy
year: 2026
- title: 'Aluminium-manganese master alloy: safety data sheet (NextSDS)'
type: sds
url: https://nextsds.com/sds/en/281331501304661/aluminium-manganese-master-alloy
year: 2026
- title: 'Cobalt-aluminium alloy: safety data sheet (Stanford Advanced Materials, revised 05/15/2017)'
type: sds
url: https://samaterials.com/tds/1711693369-vd0611.pdf
year: 2017
- title: Aluminum nickel master alloy AlNi10 and AlNi20 product page (Stanford Advanced Materials)
type: datasheet
url: https://www.samaterials.com/aluminum-master-alloy/1637-aluminum-nickel-master-alloy.html
year: 2026
gaps:
- No density was read for Al3Ti, Al3Ni, Al3Zr, Al6Mn, Al9Co2 or the Al-Ti-B master alloy in any source read in this run. The Al-Zr and Al-Mn SDSs each print a density for the product, but without a unit, so neither is used."
- The Al-Zr SDS prints its melting point as 1.100 °C. The separator is ambiguous and the source check did not match the number 1100, so no Al-Zr melting point is used.
- No melting point was read for Al-Ti-B, Al-Ni, Al-Co, or the intermetallics. A 574.8 C DTA value for Al3Ni seen in a search snippet was not read in a fetched page and is not used.
- Ti and B wt% for Al-5Ti-1B are not printed in the Huang 2018 text read here; the Ti:B mole ratio of 3 to 5 is quoted from the paper's introduction.
- No product datasheet for a 10 % Co, 10 % Ti or 10 % Zr master alloy, with printed composition, density or melting point, was reached in this run. The Al-Co SDS does not print the cobalt percentage.
- No corrosion test or service data were found for any of these master alloys. The 2018 study tests refining efficiency only.
- No space or flight use was found for any of these master alloys in the sources read here.
- PubChem GHS summaries for nickel and cobalt could not be read in this run (reCAPTCHA page). Manganese, zirconium and titanium GHS data were not fetched.
- Critical-mineral lists (USGS 2025 list, EU CRM list) for titanium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and aluminium are not printed in the USGS chapter text read here, so critical_lists is left empty.
- Boron supply (needed for Al-Ti-B) was not read; no USGS boron chapter was fetched.
- No UNS, EN, DIN or AA designation was read from a page that prints it for one of these master alloys. The EN 575 entry for AlNi10 and the Zr10 entry are behind a paywall or login.
- The Al3Zr grain-refining efficiency result found in search snippets was not read in a fetched page and is not used.
sources:
usgs-mcs2026-titanium:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Titanium and Titanium Dioxide'
id: USGS MCS 2026 titanium chapter
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-titanium.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
usgs-mcs2026-nickel:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Nickel'
id: USGS MCS 2026 nickel chapter
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-nickel.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
usgs-mcs2026-cobalt:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Cobalt'
id: USGS MCS 2026 cobalt chapter
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-cobalt.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
usgs-mcs2026-manganese:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese'
id: USGS MCS 2026 manganese chapter
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-manganese.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
usgs-mcs2026-aluminum:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Aluminum'
id: USGS MCS 2026 aluminum chapter
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-aluminum.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
huang2018:
title: Effects of holding conditions on microstructure of Al-5Ti-1B and its refining efficiency on Al-Cu alloy
id: AMM 2018, 2, 16 (Huang)
url: https://www.czasopisma.pan.pl//Content/106670/PDF/AMM-2018-2-16-Huang.pdf
year: 2018
kind: paper
license: as published
nextsds-alzr:
title: 'Aluminium-zirconium master alloy: safety data sheet (NextSDS)'
id: NextSDS record 281331501269666
url: https://nextsds.com/sds/en/281331501269666/aluminium-zirconium-master-alloy
year: 2026
kind: datasheet
license: supplier safety data sheet (cited, not reproduced)
nextsds-almn:
title: 'Aluminium-manganese master alloy: safety data sheet (NextSDS)'
id: NextSDS record 281331501304661
url: https://nextsds.com/sds/en/281331501304661/aluminium-manganese-master-alloy
year: 2026
kind: datasheet
license: supplier safety data sheet (cited, not reproduced)
samaterials-alni:
title: Aluminum nickel master alloy (AlNi10, AlNi20) product page, Stanford Advanced Materials
id: Stanford Advanced Materials product 1637
url: https://www.samaterials.com/aluminum-master-alloy/1637-aluminum-nickel-master-alloy.html
year: 2026
kind: datasheet
license: supplier web page (cited, not reproduced)
samaterials-co-al-sds:
title: 'Cobalt-aluminium alloy: safety data sheet, Stanford Advanced Materials (revised 05/15/2017)'
id: Stanford Advanced Materials SDS 1711693369
url: https://samaterials.com/tds/1711693369-vd0611.pdf
year: 2017
kind: datasheet
license: supplier safety data sheet (cited, not reproduced)
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-26'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 11
unreachable: 2
caveats: 6
note: 'Values were read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-26 from the pages named in each entry. Not reached: PubChem (reCAPTCHA page, nickel and cobalt GHS), Huang paper density or melting data (none printed), the Intermetallics Al3Zr paper (page not returned), Totalmateria EN 575 entries (login). Caveats: the Al-Zr melting point is printed as 1.100 °C and was dropped because the source check could not match it; the Al-Zr and Al-Mn SDS densities are printed without a unit and are not used; the AlNi10 and AlNi20 ranges are the supplier''s theoretical-data values; the Al-Co SDS does not print the Co percentage; the Al-Mn and Al-Zr SDS hazard sections print no H-codes; the severity of the two failure risks is the assistant''s rating, not a source value; no corrosion or space-use data were found.'
story:
recipe:
line: 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.
parts:
- name: Aluminium
symbol: Al
role: The matrix and the balance of every product. The SDSs print it as the balance in the composition tables.
- name: Nickel
symbol: Ni
role: Alloying addition in AlNi10 (9.0 to 11.0 %) and AlNi20 (18.0 to 22.0 %) as printed by Stanford Advanced Materials.
- name: Titanium
symbol: Ti
role: 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.
- name: Boron
symbol: B
role: 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.
- name: Cobalt
symbol: Co
role: Named in the Al-Co product (Stanford Advanced Materials SDS). Its percentage is not printed.
- name: Manganese
symbol: Mn
role: 'Alloying addition in the Al-Mn product: 5 to 35 % by the NextSDS composition table.'
- name: Zirconium
symbol: Zr
role: 'Alloying and grain-refining addition in the Al-Zr product: 5 % by the NextSDS composition table.'
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 0
verdict: No GHS hazard classification in the SDSs read
lead: 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.
points:
- label: Dust and fines
line: 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.
- label: Water contact
line: The Al-Zr sheet says to avoid contact between molten material and water.
- label: Storage
line: Store in a cool, dry, well ventilated area and keep the product dry until it is charged into the furnace.
- title: At the furnace
lead: Handling a master alloy at the furnace involves molten metal. The SDSs name the risks, but they do not print the consequences.
points:
- label: Moisture and incompatible chemicals
line: 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.
- label: Protection
line: The Al-Mn sheet calls for gloves and safety goggles during handling.
why: '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.'
uses:
- where: Grain refining in casting
line: 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).
- where: Alloy charge in the furnace
line: 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.
can_do:
- label: Nucleation of grains
benchmark: holding_temperature
value: '820'
line: 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).
- label: Melting point of the Al-Mn product
benchmark: melting_point
value: '880'
line: The Al-Mn master alloy (5 to 35 % Mn) melts at 880 °C, per its NextSDS sheet.
- label: Nickel products
benchmark: nickel_content
value: '9'
line: 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.
compare: 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.
compare_rows:
- label: Melting point of Al-Mn product
benchmark: melting_point
- label: Nickel content of AlNi10
benchmark: nickel_content
- label: Holding temperature of Al-5Ti-1B
benchmark: holding_temperature
handling:
- Keep the product dry until it goes into the furnace (Al-Mn and Al-Zr sheets).
- Do not breathe dust or smoke (Al-Zr sheet). Avoid building up large quantities of fines (Al-Mn sheet).
- Avoid contact between molten material and water (Al-Zr sheet).
- Wear gloves and safety goggles during handling (Al-Mn sheet).
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:
- 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.
verdict: 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.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
| # | Source | Type | Year | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Titanium and Titanium Dioxide | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Nickel | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Cobalt | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Aluminum | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| Effects of holding conditions on microstructure of Al-5Ti-1B and its refining efficiency on Al-Cu alloy | paper | 2018 | 3 values | |
| Aluminium-zirconium master alloy: safety data sheet (NextSDS) | datasheet | 2026 | 4 values | |
| Aluminium-manganese master alloy: safety data sheet (NextSDS) | datasheet | 2026 | 7 values | |
| Aluminum nickel master alloy (AlNi10, AlNi20) product page, Stanford Advanced Materials | datasheet | 2026 | 7 values | |
| Cobalt-aluminium alloy: safety data sheet, Stanford Advanced Materials (revised 05/15/2017) | datasheet | 2017 | 1 value |