Liquid Si-rich Si-Zr alloys in contact with C and SiC: Wettability and Interaction phenomena

Currently, the main challenge facing the development of advanced MMCs and CMCs are related to the costly fabrication of tailored interface microstructures for highly demanding applications. In designing advanced refractory composites, reactive infiltration of liquid Si-enriched Si-Zr alloys into C- or SiC-based preforms may be a cost-less alternative. Fundamental investigations on interfacial phenomena between liquid Si-Zr alloys in contact with C and SiC substrates, are key steps for optimizing liquid assisted processes, such as reactive infiltration [1]. Indeed, wettability and reactivity studies can easily provide useful indications for solving many technological problems affecting the reactive infiltration mechanisms, such as pore closure/narrowing phenomena.

Aiming to ‘‘mimic’’ the conventional operating conditions imposed during infiltration process, the contact heating sessile drop method was applied to better understand the interaction phenomena occurring between three liquid Si-rich Si-Zr alloys in contact with Glassy Carbon (GC) and SiC substrates. Namely, the contact angle values as a function of time were measured over the temperature range of T = 1354-1500°C under an Ar atmosphere and reduced O-content [2]. To check the reliability of the results obtained, targeted wetting experiments were performed by dispensed drop [3]. At the Si-10%atZr alloy/GC and Si-10%atZr alloy/SiC intefaces, reactive and no-reactive wetting mechanisms, respectively, were evinced. In addition, the influence of Si-content [4], as well as temperature and time-dependencies on the interaction phenomena in terms of wettability, spreading kinetics and developed interface microstructures have been careful analyzed and the results are reported in the paper.  

Acknowledgment

The work performed was supported by National Science Center of Poland through POLONEZ project number UMO-2016/23/P/ST8/01916. This project is carried out under POLONEZ-3 program which has received funding from European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 665778.

REFERENCES:

[1] M. Caccia, J. Narciso, Materials 12 (15) (2019) 2425.

[2] D.Giuranno, A. Polkowska, W. Polkowski, R. Novakovic, J. Alloys Compds, 822 (2020) 153643.

[3] D. Giuranno, G. Bruzda, A. Polkowska, R. Nowak, W. Polkowski, A. Kudyba, N. Sobczak, F. Mocellin, R. Novakovic, J.  Eur. Ceram. Soc. 40 (4) (2020) 953-960.

[4] D. Giuranno, W. Polkowski, G. Bruzda, A. Kudyba, J. Narciso, Materials MDPI (2020), 13 (5) (2020) n.1194