Work of adhesion in ceramic oxide/liquid metal systems

On the basis of experimental data given in the literature, a model for the determination of the work of adhesion was successfully applied in non-reactive oxide Al2O3 ZrO2 UO2/liquid metal systems. According to this model, the non-transition metals interact with oxides via dispersion forces, whilst the transition metals additionally establish chemical-type equilibrium bonds with the oxide surface. The assumptions of the model for both system categories are discussed and they are in good agreement with other theoretical and experimental findings.