L. Mouradoff et al., STUDY OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN LIQUID ALUMINUM AND SILICON-NITRIDE, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 13(4), 1994, pp. 323-328
The sessile drop method was used to determine the evolution as a funct
ion of time and temperature, under vacuum, of the contact angle theta
of molten aluminum on two kinds of silicon nitride (SRBSN and CVD-SN).
These results are discussed in terms of thermodynamic calculations (s
tability of a superficial metal oxide layer) coupled with morphologica
l observations and characterization of the ceramic/metal interface. Th
e limited interfacial corrosion and the formation of a protective dens
e aluminum nitride layer lead to the conclusion that silicon nitride i
s a good candidate as a corrosion resistant material for the handling
or the melting of liquid aluminum.