Wetting of TiC by molten Al at 1123–1323 K Original Research Article

The wetting of titanium carbide (TiC0.7) by liquid Al was studied using an improved sessile drop method at 1123–1323 K. The initial contact angles were 77–79°, almost independent of temperature, and the final equilibrium contact angles between 17° and 12°, slightly decreasing with increasing temperature. The interfacial reaction yielded Al4C3 and dissolved [Ti] in the early stage of the wetting, and then the formation of the Al4C3 phase was halted by excess Ti accumulated at the interface. As a result, the wetting is essentially improved initially by the formation of the Al4C3 phase and then by the adsorption of Ti at the solid–liquid interface. The role of the Ti adsorption was further demonstrated by the wetting of TiC0.7 by an Al–1 at.% Ti alloy.