Spreading kinetics of liquid metals on mild steel

Abstract

The kinetics of the spread of molten copper, Cu–Mn alloy, and aluminium on solid mild steel were investigated at temperatures from 800 to 1100°C under an anhydrous borate flux. The molten copper and Cu–Mn alloy seem to spread largely by surface diffusion and the spread of molten aluminium follows linear kinetics. The spread coefficient, interfacial tension, and work of adhesion are evaluated from the relationship between an observed rate constant and Yin's theoretical formulism. The spread of molten copper on mild steel indicates complete wetting, while the spread of molten aluminium shows the least wetting. In the aluminium–mild steel spread system, the spread tends to increase with temperature: with increasing temperature, the spread coefficient increases and the interfacial tension decreases, while the work of adhesion remains much the same.

MST/743