Alloying Tablets Mn · Fe · Cr · Ti · Cu Additives for Aluminum
Several times the element per kilogram of a typical hardener. A 10% manganese master alloy brings nine kilograms of aluminum with every kilogram of manganese. An alloying tablet carries about 75% of the element, compacted with a flux that pulls it under the surface and helps it dissolve, so additions are smaller, faster and easier to weigh.
Chelora Chemicals is an alloying tablet supplier and sourcing partner serving casthouses, foundries and remelters across the United States. We supply manganese, iron, chromium, titanium and copper tablets with a batch analysis on every consignment.
- Product type
- Compacted alloying additive
- Elements
- Mn · Fe · Cr · Ti · Cu
- Metal content
- Typically about 75%
- Other components
- Flux · aluminum powder
- Form
- Compacted tablet
- Application
- Added to melt, then stirred
- Packaging
- Sealed packs in boxes or drums
- Alternative
- Master alloys
- Documentation
- Batch analysis
Note: density matters. Patent data link recovery and dissolution rate to tablet density. A well-compacted tablet sinks and dissolves; a soft one floats and oxidizes.
How a tablet gets an element in
Metal powder, flux and a little aluminum, compacted so it sinks, wets and dissolves.
Why it matters: manganese, iron, chromium and titanium melt far above aluminum. As fine powder in a fluxed compact they dissolve at normal melt temperatures instead
What alloying tablets are and do
Alloying tablets are compacts of a metal powder, a flux and a little aluminum powder, pressed into tablets or briquettes. Published patent formulations put the alloying metal at 60 to 90% of the tablet, with about 75% common, around 20% flux and about 5% aluminum powder.
They exist because the elements most often added this way — manganese, iron, chromium and titanium — melt far above aluminum. In fine powder form, wetted by a flux that melts below the bath temperature and held under the surface, they dissolve at normal melt temperatures. Patent examples report manganese recoveries close to 100% and more than 97% of an addition dissolved within about five minutes.
Tablets or master alloys?
- Tablets carry about 75% of the element, so much less aluminum is added with it.
- Master alloys carry less of the element but add no flux to the melt.
- Tablets are easy to weigh in exact multiples for a target addition.
- Both need dry, preheated handling going into molten metal.
Handling character
Alloying tablets must go into the melt dry. Moisture on any addition to molten aluminum is a steam explosion risk. Details in the Safety section.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Alloying metal content | Typically about 75%, per grade |
| Flux content | Per grade |
| Impurities | Per agreed limits |
| Tablet weight | Per agreed specification |
| Density / compaction | Per producer specification |
| Packaging | Sealed against moisture |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical form | Compacted tablet or briquette |
| Elements | Mn, Fe, Cr, Ti, Cu |
| Metal content | Typically about 75% |
| Flux | Melts below bath temperature |
| Dissolution | Minutes at normal melt temperature |
| Recovery | High; grade-dependent |
| Alternative | Master alloys |
Composition ranges, dissolution times and recoveries quoted here come from published patent examples for compacted aluminum alloying additives. Actual content, tablet weight and recovery are grade-specific and stated by the producer. Treat the table as orientation, not as a specification.
Where alloying tablets are used
Alloy chemistry correction in casthouses, foundries and remelt.
Casthouse alloy production
Manganese, iron and chromium additions to wrought alloys in melting and holding furnaces.
- ≈ 75% metal grades
- Weighed multiples
- Batch analysis
Scrap & remelt correction
Bringing scrap-based melts up to specification with small, measured additions.
- Fast dissolution
- High recovery
- Trial packs available
Foundry alloys
Iron, manganese and copper adjustments in casting alloys.
- Grade per element
- Consistent tablet weight
- Batch traceability
Titanium additions
Titanium tablets for alloy chemistry, alongside separate grain refining.
- Ti tablet grades
- Grain refiner tablets
- Technical desk review
Element by element
Manganese, iron, chromium, titanium and copper, each as its own grade.
- Mn · Fe · Cr
- Ti · Cu
- Nominal grades on request
Scheduled supply
Melt treatment runs every shift, so steady call-off supply matters more than spot price.
- Annual contracts with call-off
- Price held across the contract
- Second source held in reserve
Delivered to US plants and ports
We ship alloying tablets to nominated delivery points across the United States. The regions below are destinations we serve — Chelora Chemicals is a sourcing and supply partner, not a US manufacturer, and does not hold US stock.
Gulf Coast
The largest US chemical cluster, and the usual entry point for bulk consignments.
- Houston & Galveston, TX
- New Orleans & Baton Rouge, LA
- Mobile, AL
Northeast
Container and bulk delivery into the mid-Atlantic and New England manufacturing belt.
- Newark & Elizabeth, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Boston, MA
Southeast
Port-side delivery for the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida processing plants.
- Savannah, GA
- Charleston, SC
- Jacksonville, FL & Norfolk, VA
Midwest & Great Lakes
Inland rail and truck forwarding from the nearest coastal port to the industrial Midwest.
- Chicago, IL
- Detroit, MI
- Cleveland & Columbus, OH
West Coast
Pacific routing for West Coast processors and formulators.
- Los Angeles & Long Beach, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle & Tacoma, WA
Southwest & Mountain
Inland delivery to interior states, forwarded from the Gulf or Pacific gateway.
- Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Denver, CO
Importing into the United States
An alloying tablet is a chemical mixture, so TSCA looks at each component rather than the product name. Under TSCA section 13 the importer of record, or its authorized agent, must certify to US Customs and Border Protection that each shipment either complies with TSCA or is not subject to it. We confirm the Inventory status of every component with the producer and agree in writing who files that certification before the first consignment moves.
Which party carries that duty follows the Incoterm. On FOB, CFR or CIF terms it is usually the US buyer; on DDP terms it can be the seller or its agent. Safety data sheets and labels are supplied to OSHA's updated Hazard Communication Standard, and the transport transport documentation is prepared before booking.
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Delivery points | Any nominated US plant, terminal or port of discharge |
| Incoterms quoted | FOB · CFR · CIF · DDP |
| Importer of record | Agreed in writing before the first shipment |
| TSCA certification | Section 13 positive certification filed at entry |
| Documentation | Batch COA, SDS, packing list, certificate of origin |
| Pack formats | Sealed packs in boxes or drums |
Note: regional coverage describes where we deliver, not where we hold inventory. Lead time depends on producer scheduling and ocean transit to your nominated US port — we confirm both in the quotation.
How we supply alloying tablets
Chelora Chemicals is an alloying tablet supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. We place your order with a qualified producer whose grade, metal content and tablet weight fit your additions.
We ask what you add and how much. Tablet weight is chosen so a typical addition is a whole number of tablets, and the element grade is matched to your impurity limits.
We also ask what you use today. If you are on master alloys, tablets can cut the aluminum and the weight you ship and add; if the flux they bring is a concern for your process, master alloys may still be the better choice, and we supply both.
- Five elements from one desk. Manganese, iron, chromium, titanium and copper.
- Tablet weight matched to your additions. Whole-tablet doses for your melt size.
- Batch analysis with every lot. Element content and impurities.
- Moisture-sealed packaging. Dry additions only, into molten metal.
- Master alloys quoted alongside. Choose on the numbers, not on what we prefer to sell.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
Sealed and weighed
Tablets in sealed packs, boxed or drummed, with full documentation.
Sealed packs in boxes
Tablets sealed and boxed by weight, the standard unit.
Lined drums
Lined drums for larger quantities.
Strapped pallets
Boxes palletized for container shipment.
Small trial quantities
Small packs for trial before a commercial order.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to.
Scheduled deliveries
Annual volume released against your production schedule.
Metal powder, flux and molten metal
Alloying tablets are compacted metal powder with a flux, added to molten aluminum. The hazards that matter most are moisture — any water reaching molten aluminum can cause a violent steam eruption — fume from the flux, and dust from broken tablets, which can be combustible. The summary below is orientation only; the safety data sheet supplied with your batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H₂ODamp or cold tablets in molten aluminum: risk of violent steam eruption.DustMetal powder from broken tablets may be combustible; avoid dust clouds.FumeFlux fume at the melt: use local exhaust ventilation.PELAlloying elements carry their own exposure limits.SDSGrade-specific GHS classification in the batch SDS.
The foundry rule that matters most. Water and molten aluminum must never meet. Store tablets dry, let them reach shop temperature before use, and add them with dry tools. Sweep up broken tablets and fines rather than letting dust accumulate.
Storage
Store in sealed original packaging in a dry, covered area, off the floor. Keep packs closed until use. Segregate by element so additions are never mixed up.
Handling
Add tablets through the furnace door into the melt with dry tools, then stir intermittently to distribute the element. Wear a face shield, heat-resistant gloves and protective clothing. Avoid creating dust from broken tablets. Follow the batch SDS and your own foundry safety program.
Transport
Transport classification depends on the element and grade. We confirm and document the classification for your grade, packaging and destination before booking.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Alloy family, melt temperature, application method and the grade chemistry confirmed against your process before the order is placed.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS, TSCA position and transport classification checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
Why compaction decides recovery
An alloying addition is only as good as the share of it that ends up in the metal. Powder that floats on the surface oxidizes; powder that clumps dissolves slowly. A compacted tablet solves both by holding the powder together with a flux and enough density to sink.
The flux matters because it melts below the bath temperature, wets the metal particles and helps keep them submerged. The small aluminum addition helps too: published patent work found that aluminum and flux together gave a markedly better combination of recovery and dissolution speed than either alone, and linked better results to compacts with a density of at least 4.0 g/cm³.
For the buyer, the practical checks are simple: a consistent tablet weight, a stated element content, and tablets that arrive whole and dry. After that, add through the door, stir, and sample.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Product family | Compacted alloying additive |
|---|---|
| Elements | Mn · Fe · Cr · Ti · Cu |
| Metal content | Typically about 75% |
| Other components | Flux · aluminum powder |
| Dissolution | Minutes at melt temperature |
| Alternative | Master alloys |
Related foundry & melt-treatment products
Other aluminum melt-treatment inputs supplied from the same desk.
Alloying tablets, answered
What are alloying tablets?
What is in an alloying tablet?
Why use tablets instead of the pure metal?
How do alloying tablets compare with master alloys?
How are alloying tablets added?
What recovery can I expect?
Does tablet quality matter?
Which elements are available?
What safety precautions apply?
Do you manufacture alloying tablets?
Get a quote on alloying tablets
Tell us which elements you add, your typical addition per melt and any impurity limits. We will match grades and tablet weights, and quote master alloys alongside if you want to compare.