In situ HRTEM observations of the formation of reaction phases from liquid Ag-Cu-Ti alloy and SiC, Si and C substrates

Processes of reaction between Ag-Cu-Ti molten alloy and silicon, carbon and SiC substrates were directly observed by in situ heating high-resolution electron microscopy. It was found that TIC grew in a layer by layer mode at the spreading front, and that a double layer consisting of an outer Ti5Si3 and an inner TiC layers was formed by the reaction between the SiC substrate and the molten alloy. The morphology of the spreading front was also found to depend on the chemical composition of the dissociated substrate in the molten alloy.