High-temperature wetting and interfacial interaction between liquid Al and TiB2 ceramic

The wetting behaviour and interfacial interactions between liquid Al and TiB2 ceramic have been studied by the sessile drop technique in the temperature range from 700 to 1400 degrees C. At about 800 degrees C, liquid Al starts to wet TiB2 and at about 1000 degrees C it completely spreads over the ceramic. Al3Ti and Al2O3 are found to be the main phases precipitating at the interface. Starting from 1000 degrees C, liquid Al either fill pores or penetrates along the grain boundaries of the TiB2 ceramic. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the interfaces evidences that the TiB2 grains remain intact after the aluminium melt/ceramic interaction even at 1400 degrees C.