The contact angle data drawn from sessile drop tests of commercial aluminum alloys (1010, 2024, 6061 and 7075) on TiC substrates (at 900degreesC, under vacuum and argon atmospheres) was plotted on a logarithmic time scale. Several aspects were taken into account to describe the spreading mechanism in four kinetic stages in systems that exhibited wetting (1010, 2024 in both environments and 7075 under vacuum). It was found that commercial multi-element alloys do not improve wetting of Al on TiC and that alloying elements and the atmosphere exert a significant role on the wetting behavior in the early stages. A physical model describing spreading in the early stages is presented. The influence of alloying elements and the type of atmosphere on the deoxidation of the drops are discussed.