Effect of direct electric current on wetting behavior of molten Bi on Cu substrate

The effect of direct electric current on the wetting behavior of molten Bi on Cu substrate at 370°C was investigated by the sessile drop method. The wettability of molten Bi on Cu without an applied current is poor and the spreading time required to form the steady-state contact angle (about 102°) is approximately 30 min. With the increase of the applied electric current, the spreading of molten Bi on Cu is accelerated significantly and the steady-state contact angle decreases considerably. The cross-section SEM micrographs of the solidified Bi droplet on Cu substrate show that the electric current has a marked effect on the convection of melt. Correspondingly, the application of an electric current obviously enhances the dissolution of Cu into Bi melt, which may change the wetting triple line configuration. The improvement of wettability induced by electric current is also related to the additional driving force for wetting provided by the electromagnetic pressure gradient force.