Contact interaction of metal melts with fullerite and graphite

•The differences in wetting of fullerite and graphite by metal melts first established.•This are caused by the structural changes in fullerite at heating.•An important role is played by the affinity of metal to carbon•The scheme of the various contact interaction of Fe, Ni, Cu melts with graphite and fullerite is presented. Comparative studies of contact interactions of Fe, Ni, Cu melts with graphite and fullerite were performed using a sessile drop method, X-ray analysis and metallographic analysis. It was shown that the contact interaction of Fe with fullerite and graphite substrates caused changes in the structure of iron. Namely, perlite, cementite and graphite precipitates in different proportions were formed. In comparison with Fe, in case of Ni total soaking of the fullerite substrate by the metal (and only partial in case of graphite) was observed while metal structure remained unchanged. No contact interaction of Cu with fullerite and graphite occurred. The differences in wetting of carbon materials by metal melts were stated to be caused by the structural changes in fullerite at heating higher than 1000оC (its amorphization) and further increase of carbon substrate porosity. A scheme was presented illustrating the difference in contact interactions of metal melts with fullerite and graphite.