Wetting and Reaction Characteristics of Al2O3/SiC Composite Refractories by Molten Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy

The reactive wetting behavior in molten aluminum and Al alloy was investigated by the sessile drop method for three alumina‐silicon carbide composites, namely TC, TQ, and MC. The initial contact angle for all the three refractory substrates was obtuse in spite of a gradual decrease with time in the first hour of the experiment. TC showed a higher contact angle than TQ and MC. The difference in wetting properties among these refractories is attributed to their compositional and microstructural variations. The effects of magnesium in the molten Al alloy on the wetting kinetics and the reaction with the refractory substrates are also discussed.