Interaction kinetics of boron carbide and silicon carbide with liquid aluminium

TLDR: In this paper, the interaction of boron carbide and silicon carbide with liquid aluminium at 1000 K was studied when the melt was not stirred, and the results were compared with those obtained using quantitative chemical analysis for B4C and aluminium carbide.

Abstract: The interaction of boron carbide and silicon carbide with liquid aluminium at 1000 K was studied when the melt was not stirred. Electron and X-ray diffraction methods were used to identify Al4C3 and AlB2 phases in the Al-B4C system, while the Al4C3 phase only was identified in the Al-SiC system. All the phases were found to grow when the metal crystallized from the supersaturated solution in the shape of rectilinearly faceted crystals. By weighing the specimens prior to and following contact with the liquid metal, kinetic peculiarities of the dissolution of carbide were established. Constants of boron and carbon dissolution from carbides in liquid aluminium were determined. The results are compared with those obtained using quantitative chemical analysis for boron carbide and aluminium carbide. The higher dissolution rate of boron carbide as compared with that of silicon carbide is accounted for by the peculiar structure of the solid.