Interaction of molten Armco iron with various ceramic substrates at 1600 °C

Ceramic substrates (Al2O3.MgO, CA6, CaZrO3, AZT (Al2O3 based substrates containing ZrO2 and TiO2)) were interacted with liquid Armco iron under a low oxygen partial pressure in the heating microscope. No noticeable dissolution of the ceramic substrates and reaction was observed for most of the substrates. Furthermore, deposition of SiO2 and Fe was found on the cross section between iron and these substrates. However, for the substrate AZT, a reaction layer of complex composition was found on the interface between the iron sample and the AZT substrate. After all experiments, the total number of inclusions in the iron samples greatly decreased. The deposition, agglomeration of inclusions, and the evaporation of some elements were the factors for the inclusions decreasing. Furthermore, the stability of oxides consisted of substrates under low oxygen partial pressure was confirmed by the thermodynamic calculation.

Automated summary

When ceramic substrates interacted with liquid Armco iron under a low oxygen partial pressure, most of the substrates did not show noticeable dissolution or reaction. Deposition of SiO2 and Fe was found on the cross section between iron and some substrates, while a reaction layer of complex composition was observed on the interface between iron and the AZT substrate. The total number of inclusions in the iron samples decreased significantly after all experiments, mainly due to factors such as deposition, agglomeration of inclusions, and evaporation of some elements. The stability of oxides in the substrates under low oxygen partial pressure was confirmed by thermodynamic calculations.