The as-cast grain morphology of the alloy was changed with adding the trace scandium and zirconium compound into the hypereutectic Al-4Fe alloy.The grain in the aluminum matrix is refined effectively as a result of the modification agent providing high quality heterogeneous nucleation core in the process of alloy solidification.The diffusion of the Fe atoms is inhibited partly in the frontiers of the crystallization because of the enrichment of Sc and Zr around the primary Al3 Fe phases which plays the role in inhibiting and refining the growth of primary Al3 Fe phase.With 0.3% Sc and 0.2% Zr compound addition in the Al-4Fe alloy

the desirable refining effects can be observed

and the primary Al3 Fe phase is changed from the shape of coarse needles to be fine needle-like

particle-like and flower-like

so the tensile strength of the alloy is also improved.In addition

the refining mechanism of minor Sc and Zr compound modifying the hypereutectic Al-4Fe alloy was expound.