The wettability of SiC ceramics by molten E2O3(ss)/AlN (E2O3(ss) = solid solution of rare earth oxides)

Wetting of SiC by molten E2O3(ss)/AlN as a function of temperature up to 2000 °C was investigated under argon and nitrogen atmospheres. E2O3(ss) is a solid solution of rare earth oxides produced from xenotime by hydrometallurgy. Wetting was evaluated from contact angle measurements using the sessile drop method. Contact angle was around zero under argon atmosphere, but could not be measured under nitrogen atmosphere, due to bubble formation. The interfaces between molten E2O3(ss)/AlN and SiC were analysed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).