Simulation on the infiltration with insufficience of molten Cu into W micro-channel

Abstract The effect of wettability between Cu and W on the flow behavior was simulated at the given condition of insufficience of molten Cu in this investigation. A single channel geometrical model of the W skeleton was established, the flow process of immiscible hydrogen and molten Cu in micro-channel was simulated based on VOF (Volume of Fluid) model by using Fluent Version 6.1, and the effect of wettability and infiltration time on the flow behavior in the W channel and at the flow front of molten Cu was analyzed as well. The results show that the flow front of molten Cu presents a convex shape under the insufficience of molten Cu condition, and progressively becomes more sharpened with infiltration time and the decreased contact angle, and, thus, results in the separation of molten Cu from W surface and the formation of pores, along with the poor performance of CuW alloy. The simulated results are in good agreement with experimental results.