Wettability of silicon carbide ceramic by Al2O3/Dy2O3 and Al2O3/Yb2O3 systems

Wettability is an important phenomenon in the liquid phase sintering of silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics. This work involved a study of the wetting of SiC ceramics by two oxide systems, Al2O3 /Dy2O3 and Al2O3 /Yb2O3, which have so far not been studied for application in the sintering of SiC ceramics. Five mixtures of each system were prepared, with different compositions close to their respective eutectic ones. Samples of the mixtures were pressed into cylindrical specimens, which were placed on a SiC plate and subjected to temperatures above their melting points using a graphite resistance furnace. The behavior of the melted mixtures on the SiC plate was observed by means of an imaging system using a CCD camera and the sessile drop method was employed to determine the contact angle, the parameter that measures the degree of wettability. The results of variation in the contact angle as a function of temperature were plotted in graphic form which showed that the curves displayed a fast decline and good spreading. All the samples of the two systems presented final contact angles of 40° to 10° indicating their good wetting on SiC in the argon atmosphere. The melted/solidified area and interface between SiC and melted/solidified phase were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their crystalline phases were identified by X-ray diffraction (DRX). The DRX analysis showed that Al2O3 and RE2O3 reacted and formed the Dy3Al5O12 (DyAg) and Yb3Al5O12 (YbAg) phases. The results indicated that the two systems had a promising potential as additives for the sintering of SiC ceramics.

Graphical AbstractPhase diagram of the Yb2O3/Al2O3 system (the arrow indicates the used eutectic point, which was taken as reference in this study)Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide