Wetting of TaC by Liquid Cu and Liquid Ag

Wetting of TaC^0.97±0.01 by liquid Cu and liquid Ag was studied by the sessile drop method. The cosine of the contact angle increased linearly with increasing temperature in both systems. The critical surface energy for spreading was 1098 ergs/cm² at 1605°C for Cu and 688 ergs/cm² at 2160°C for Ag. The work of adhesion, which was 1759 ergs/cm² at the melting point for Cu and 321 ergs/cm² at the melting point for Ag, increased parabolically with increasing temperature in both systems. The surface energy of TaC_0.97±0.01 was estimated to be 1804±706 ergs/cm².