Wettability of Al2O3, MgO and Ti2O3 by Liquid Iron and Steel

The wetting behavior of liquid iron and steel on Al2O3, MgO and Ti2O3 substrates was measured by using the sessile drop method. Measurements were carried out using a controlled oxygen partial pressure and using an argon protected atmosphere. For the Al2O3 and MgO substrates, reaction layers in form of FeAl2O4 and MgO-FeO (solid solution) were formed. These layers slightly decreased the contact angle and surface tension values after a full melting. For a Ti2O3 substrate in contact with pure Fe, no-reaction could be observed at the interface. Furthermore, the contact angle and surface tension values were almost stable after a full melting. For a Ti2O3 substrate in contact with steel, the contact angle and surface tension values decreased steeply after a full melting, due to the formation Al2TiO5 reaction layer formation at the interface.