Grain Refiner Tablets Titanium–Boron Salt Tablets for Aluminum
Grain refining without a rod feeder. A casthouse feeds Al-Ti-B rod into the launder; a foundry treating a crucible or ladle needs something it can weigh and plunge. Grain refiner tablets carry titanium and boron as salts that react with the molten aluminum and seed it with nuclei, so the casting freezes with finer, more even grains.
Chelora Chemicals is a grain refiner tablet supplier and sourcing partner serving aluminum foundries and die casters across the United States. We match the grade to your alloy and melt size, including sodium-free grades, with a batch COA and SDS on every consignment.
- Product type
- Grain refining tablet
- Active salts
- K₂TiF₆ · KBF₄
- Nuclei formed in the melt
- TiB₂ · TiAl₃
- Metal
- Aluminum casting alloys
- Form
- Compacted tablet
- Grades
- Standard · sodium-free
- Application
- Plunged or self-sinking
- Dose
- Per the producer's dosing guide
- Documentation
- Batch COA & SDS
Note: refine just before you pour. The nuclei settle over time, so the effect fades with holding. Treat, stir, and cast within the window the producer gives for the grade.
From salt tablet to fine grain
The tablet does not contain the nuclei. It makes them in the melt.
Why it matters: grain size decides feeding, hot tearing and properties. A coarse, columnar structure is harder to feed and more prone to cracking than a fine, equiaxed one
What grain refiner tablets are and do
Grain refiner tablets are compacted titanium and boron salts, typically potassium fluorotitanate, K₂TiF₆, and potassium fluoroborate, KBF₄. On contact with molten aluminum the salts react, releasing titanium and boron into the melt as titanium diboride and titanium aluminide particles, with the spent salt floating off as a slag to be skimmed.
Those particles are the point. As the casting freezes, each one can act as a nucleus for a new grain, so the metal solidifies as many small, equiaxed grains instead of a few large, columnar ones. That improves feeding, reduces hot tearing and evens out mechanical properties. It is the same salt chemistry used to make Al-Ti-B master alloys, done in your crucible instead.
Tablets or master alloy?
- Tablets suit crucible, ladle and small-furnace treatment, where a measured dose is plunged per melt.
- Al-Ti-B rod suits continuous in-line feeding in casthouses and large casting lines.
- Alloy matters. Silicon can reduce titanium-based refining, which is why grades differ in Ti:B balance.
- Sodium-free grades for alloys where sodium is unwelcome.
Handling character
Grain refiner tablets must be dry and preheated before plunging. They react in the melt and release fluoride-bearing fume. Details in the Safety section.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Titanium content | Per grade |
| Boron content | Per grade |
| Sodium | Standard or sodium-free grade |
| Tablet weight | Per agreed specification |
| Moisture | Kept low; moisture-barrier pack |
| Dosing guide | Supplied with the grade |
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 |
| Active salts | K₂TiF₆ · KBF₄ |
| Reaction product | TiB₂ and TiAl₃ particles |
| By-product | Fluoride salt slag, skimmed |
| Effect fades | Yes — particles settle with holding |
| Moisture sensitivity | Store sealed and dry |
| Alternative | Al-Ti-B master alloy rod or waffle |
CAS numbers are for the two active salts most commonly used. Titanium and boron content, tablet weight and dose are grade-specific and stated on the producer's COA and dosing guide. Treat the table as orientation, not as a specification.
Where grain refiner tablets are used
Foundry treatment of aluminum casting alloys, melt by melt.
Sand & permanent mold
Crucible and ladle treatment of aluminum-silicon casting alloys for better feeding and fewer hot tears.
- Tablet size matched to melt
- Dosing guide supplied
- Batch COA
Die casting
Holding furnace and ladle treatment where grain structure affects soundness and properties.
- Sodium-free options
- Consistent tablet weight
- Batch traceability
Alloy-matched grades
Silicon content changes how titanium-based refining performs, so the Ti:B balance is matched to the alloy.
- Alloy reviewed before quoting
- Grade options compared
- Technical desk review
Combined treatment
Used alongside degassing and cleaning in a set melt-treatment sequence.
- Degassing tablets
- Cover flux
- Sequence guidance shared
Moving from rod to tablets
Smaller lines that have no feeder can refine by tablet with a weighed dose.
- Trial packs available
- Like-for-like comparison
- Rod also supplied
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 grain refiner 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
A grain refiner 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 grade-specific 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 tablet packs in cartons 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 grain refiner tablets
Chelora Chemicals is a grain refiner tablet supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. We place your order with a qualified producer whose grade fits your alloy, your melt size and your treatment practice.
We ask about the alloy first. Silicon content affects how titanium-based refining performs, and some alloys need a sodium-free grade, so the right tablet for a general casting alloy is not automatically right for yours.
Then dose and timing. Tablet weight is matched to melt weight, and because the refining effect fades as the particles settle, we send the producer's guidance on when to treat relative to pouring.
- Alloy reviewed before quoting. Ti:B balance and sodium content matched to your alloy.
- Tablet size matched to your melt. A weighed dose per crucible or ladle.
- Dosing and timing guide with the grade. Including how long the effect holds.
- Moisture-barrier packaging. A damp tablet is a safety hazard and a poor refiner.
- Rod and tablets from one desk. If you outgrow tablets, Al-Ti-B rod is quoted too.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
Sealed, dry and sized to your melt
Tablets in moisture-barrier packs, cartoned or drummed, with full documentation.
25 kg moisture-barrier bags
Poly-lined bags, the standard unit for flux products.
Lined drums
Lined, resealable drums for use from the container at the furnace.
Sealed packs in cartons
Tablet grades sealed in moisture-barrier packs and cartoned.
Small trial quantities
Small packs for trial on your alloy before a commercial order.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to.
Scheduled deliveries
Annual volume released against your melt schedule.
Fluoride salts going into molten metal
Grain refiner tablets are fluoride salts that react in molten aluminum, so the hazards are fluoride-bearing fume at the melt, moisture — any water reaching molten aluminum can cause a violent steam eruption — and the toxicity of the salts themselves. The summary below is orientation only; the safety data sheet supplied with your batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
F⁻Fluoride salts (K₂TiF₆, KBF₄): harmful if swallowed or inhaled; classification per SDS.FumeFluoride-bearing fume at the melt: use local exhaust ventilation.H₂ODamp or cold tablets in molten aluminum: risk of violent steam eruption.PPEFace shield, heat-resistant gloves and protective clothing when plunging.SDSGrade-specific GHS classification in the batch SDS.
The US air rule worth knowing. EPA's secondary aluminum NESHAP, 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart RRR, defines reactive fluxing as any gas, liquid or solid flux, other than cover flux, that results in a hazardous air pollutant emission, and it defines cover flux as salt added to the melt surface without surface agitation to prevent oxidation. Foundries, die casters and extruders melting only clean charge, customer returns or internal scrap are outside the definition of a secondary aluminum production facility. Whether your fluxing practice brings you inside the rule is a determination for you and your permitting authority; we supply the composition data you need to make it.
Storage
Store in sealed original packs in a dry, covered area, off the floor and away from food and feedstuffs. Keep packs closed until use; tablets that have taken up moisture should not be used.
Handling
Preheat the tablet and the plunger above the melt to drive off moisture, plunge steadily and hold until the reaction ends, then stir and skim the slag. Wear a face shield, heat-resistant gloves and protective clothing, and use local exhaust ventilation at the melt. Follow the batch SDS and the producer's application guide.
Transport
Transport classification is set by the formulation; fluoride content can bring a grade into a toxic class. 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 the refining effect fades
A grain refiner works by putting solid particles into a liquid, and solid particles that are denser than the liquid do what you would expect: they settle. Titanium diboride is markedly denser than molten aluminum, so from the moment the tablet reacts, the population of effective nuclei in the upper part of the melt starts to fall.
That is why foundries talk about fade. Treat too early, hold too long, or pour from a melt that has sat undisturbed, and the casting sees fewer nuclei than the dose suggests. Stirring before pouring redistributes particles that have not yet agglomerated; it does not fully restore them.
The practical rule is simple: treat close to pouring, stir before you cast, and follow the producer's guidance for the grade on how long the effect holds. It is also why a measured tablet per melt suits batch foundries, while continuous casting lines feed rod right at the mold.
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 | Aluminum grain refiner |
|---|---|
| Active salts | K₂TiF₆ · KBF₄ |
| Nuclei | TiB₂ · TiAl₃ formed in the melt |
| Application | Plunged or self-sinking tablet |
| Fade | Effect falls with holding time |
| Alternative | Al-Ti-B rod or waffle |
Related foundry & melt-treatment products
Other aluminum melt-treatment inputs supplied from the same desk.
Grain refiner tablets, answered
What do grain refiner tablets do?
What are grain refiner tablets made of?
How are grain refiner tablets used?
Why does the grain refining effect fade?
Should I use tablets or Al-Ti-B rod?
Do grain refiner tablets work in aluminum-silicon alloys?
Are sodium-free grain refiner tablets available?
What safety precautions apply?
How should grain refiner tablets be stored?
Do you manufacture grain refiner tablets?
Get a quote on grain refiner tablets
Tell us your alloy, melt size per treatment and how long metal is held before pouring. We will match a grade and tablet size, send the dosing and timing guide, and quote Al-Ti-B rod alongside if you are comparing routes.