Anisotropy of wetting of molten Au on differently oriented α-Al2O3 single crystals

Wetting of molten Au (rMax = 33–226 μm) on three differently oriented α-Al2O3 single crystals, R(001¯2), A(112¯0) and C(0 0 0 1), is studied by the microscopic sessile drop method under an Ar atmosphere at 1373 K. The contact angle differences for the three differently oriented α-Al2O3 single crystals are less than 4°, corresponding to changes in the work of adhesion of less than 55 mJ/m2.