Effect of Electric Current Passing Through the Interface on the Wetting of ZrO2 Ceramics with Silver–Copper–Oxygen Melt in Air

The wetting of ZrO 2 ceramics with Ag–Cu–O melts in air when electric current passes through th interface has been studied. Special samples were fabricated for experiments: parallel ZrO 2 ceramic plates, with drops of copper–silver alloy being located between them. Direct current was induced on the plates after melting of the drops. It is found that the anode plate is wetted better at certain amperage. Microstructural analysis shows that much more copper oxide adsorbs on the anode plate than on the cathode. It is assumed that oxidized copper is reduced on the cathode and thus migrates to the anode, worsening the wetting of the cathode.