Wettability and interfacial behaviour of NdF3-LiF-Nd2O3 on TiB2-based ceramics

Wettability of TiB2-based ceramics by NdF3-LiF-Nd2O3 melt was studied using sessile drop technique in this paper. Wetting experiment was carried out under inert atmosphere at 1050 °C. Chemical reactions which occurred on the solid-liquid interface and solid-gas interface during wetting process were discussed by thermodynamic calculations combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. Micromorphology and element distribution of fracture surface at the interfacial region of solid/liquid system were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Contact angles of the drop were determined as a function of time in order to describe the wetting process, and wetting phenomenon was interpreted from a viewpoint of interface structure. The results showed that wetting was a dynamic wetting process with characteristics of reactive wetting. Penetration and oxidization phenomena during the experiment had great effect on wetting process.