High – temperature interaction of molten Fe–C–O–Cr alloys with corundum

Abstract The interaction of Fe–C–O–Cr alloys varying in chromium (0.924–4.760 wt%) and carbon (0.042–1.378 wt%) content with a ceramic substrate having a high content of Al2O3 was studied by experimental wettability tests up to 1 600 °C. The degree of interaction was assessed based on changes in contact angles (wetting angles) between the above systems, and through Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The increasing trend of wetting angles with increasing content of chromium and carbon was found. The results of the analyzes confirmed the effect of carbon (≥0.1 wt%) contained in the alloys on the structural changes in substrate surface within the area under the alloy. The original corundum phase was replaced by new ones (hibonite, grossite, larnite), of which hibonite was present to the highest degree. Furthermore, in the case of low carbon alloy (0.042 wt% C), hibonite was not detected on the substrate surface contrary to chromium-doped corundum.