Wetting of W by liquid Pb and PbLi alloys and surface interactions

Wetting of W by Pb and Pb-17 at.%Li in the range 400-900 °C is studied by the dispensed drop technique. Experiments are performed using different furnace atmospheres (high vacuum, reducing gas) and different heat treatments to achieve W deoxidation. A simple pairwise model is used to explain the relation between surface interaction, which is responsible for wetting, and bulk interactions determining miscibility.