Fundamentals of Aluminum Carbide Formation

Abstract

The fundamentals of formation of aluminum carbide were studied by aluminum-carbon diffusion couple experiment. The diffusion couples consisted of liquid aluminum and graphitized carbon, and the diffusion couple experiments were performed at temperatures 1000–1200°C in stagnant argon atmosphere. The formation of aluminum carbide layer at the solid-liquid interface was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and electron and optical microscopy. The kinetics of the formation of the carbide layer was investigated in detail and formation of carbide by solid-gas reactions is discussed.