Investigating inclusions and mechanical properties of 1060 aluminum by salt fluxes refining

• Lower refining temperatures and modified salt fluxes significantly enhance the cleanliness of 1060 aluminum melt. • Adding 16wt.% Na3AlF6 and 2wt.% CaCO3 to basic salt fluxes enables gas refinement, further improving melt cleanliness. • Optimal refining condition (37wt.% NaCl-47wt.% KCl-16wt.% Na3AlF3-2wt.% CaCO3 at 740 °C) yields 99.99928% cleanliness and 71.46 MPa yield strength. • This work provides valuable reference and theoretical insights for future research on aluminum purification.