CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF REACTIVE WETTING IN THE CUTI/AL2O3 SYSTEM

The wetting (kinetics of spreading and stationary contact angles) of CuTi alloys on monocrystalline alumina under high vacuum, at a temperature of 1373 K, by the sessile drop technique was investigated. The morphological and chemical characteristics of the metal-ceramic interface were determined by scanning electron microscopy and microprobe analysis. When the results are analysed, three distinct effects of the Ti solute on wetting can be identified and evaluated semi-quantitatively: (a) a reduction in the solid-liquid interfacial tension by adsorption into the liquid side of the interface; (b) a reduction in this tension by formation of a TiO metallic-like oxide layer in the solid side of the interface; (c) a contribution to the wetting driving force due to the free energy released at the interface by the reaction between Ti and Al2O3.