Effect on wetting properties of the Al-Ti system by the addition of different alloying elements

Abstract With lightweight and high-strength, Al-Ti composites have become one of the indispensable materials in the aerospace and automotive manufacturing fields. However, due to strong interfacial reactions, the traditional pure Al-Ti composites have been limited in practical applications. To better control the interfacial reaction between the reinforced phase and the matrix in the Al-Ti composites, in this paper, the effect on wetting behavior and interfacial properties of the Al-Ti system by the addition of different alloying elements (Si, Mg, Zn, Cu) in Al melt were systematically investigated using the sessile drop method. According to the results, adding Si, Mg, Zn, and Cu elements to the Al melt can increase the steady-state wetting angle to varying degrees at the end of the holding period compared to the pure Al-Ti wetting but still maintains good wettability. The Mg, Zn, and Cu elements ensure good wettability and simultaneously reduce the temperature required for wetting, providing novel ideas for preparing aluminum matrix composites. All the systems in this experiment are typical of reactive wetting. The system with added Si and Cu showed a clear interfacial layer at the Al-Ti interface, which was comparatively smooth, and both the original Al-Ti reaction at the interface and the dissolution of the Ti substrate are inhibited.