Reactive wetting of polycrystalline TiC by molten Zr55Cu30Al10Ni5 metallic glass alloy

The isotherm wetting and spreading behaviors of polycrystalline TiC by molten Zr55Cu30Al10Ni5 alloy were investigated at 1133 to 1253 K in a vacuum by using a modified sessile drop method. The system displays good wettability with the initial and final stable contact angles of 44 to 50 degrees and 10 to 14 degrees, respectively, mildly depending on the temperature. The spreading kinetics follows well defined exponential functions and could be described by a molecular dynamic model. On the other hand, a ZrC reaction layer was formed at the interface. The wetting was primarily promoted by the Zr adsorption at the triple junction and then by the formation of the reaction layer.