Wetting behavior of single crystal TiO2 by liquid iron

Abstract

The wetting behavior of TiO2 by liquid iron was investigated by using the sessile drop method. A partial melting behavior was found to appear at the temperature below the melting point of the pure iron. Also a solid solution TiOx-FeO phase was observed between the pure iron and TiO2 substrate. The formation of this reaction layer is due to the reaction among the pure iron, TiO2 substrate and the oxygen gas. The main source of the oxygen gas for reaction is from the TiO2 substrate decomposition and a low partial pressure of oxygen near the sample.