High-temperature wettability and interactions between NbSi-based alloys and Y₂O₃ ceramics

The high-temperature wettability and interactions between NbSi-based alloys and Y₂O₃ ceramics with various microstructures were studied, based on which the corresponding mechanisms were discussed. The results showed that there was a characteristic transition during the high temperature wetting between the alloys and ceramics when the Y₂O₃ microstructure changed. The rate of spreading of molten NbSi-based alloys on the Y₂O₃ ceramics was relatively high when the level of open porosity was greater than 20.8%. As the level of open porosity of the Y₂O₃ ceramics increased from 6.9% to 27.8%, the initial and equilibrium contact angles between the alloys and ceramics increased from 81.3° to 110.0°, and from 60.5° to 93.2°, respectively. TiO and Ti₂O phases formed within the alloy matrix of each wetting system. However, as the level of open porosity of the Y₂O₃ substrates increased, the Ti-oxide content initially gradually decreased and subsequently increased. The alloy in the system with the open porosity level of 20.8% contained the lowest Ti-oxide content while the system with the open porosity level of 6.9% contained the most.