Brazeability of aluminum in vacuum-nitrogen partial-pressure atmosphere brazing
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Nagoya (Japan)
In vacuum brazing, Al-10% Si-1.5% Mg filler metal is used. The filler metal is melted and magnesium in the filler metal evaporates actively. The magnesium gas is the effective getter of contaminants such as H[sub 2]O and O[sub 2], which form an oxide film on the surface of aluminum alloys, lowering brazeability. Volatile elements also evaporate and material properties change in high-vacuum brazing. The vapor pressure of zinc in the Al-Zn alloy is high because zinc is a volatile element, but Al-Zn alloy does not melt at the brazing temperature, which is approximately 873 K and zinc does not evaporate actively compared with magnesium. However, evaporation of volatile elements and change in material properties can be minimized in vacuum-nitrogen partial-pressure atmosphere brazing, and Al-Zn alloy may be used as a sacrificial alloy in products made with aluminum alloys. In this study, brazeability in vacuum-nitrogen partial-pressure atmosphere was investigated using T-joints with horizontal Al-Mn or Al-Zn alloy sheet and vertical A4004 clad A3003 alloy brazing sheet. Specimens were brazed over a wide range of brazing pressures and N[sub 2] carrier gas flow rates. The brazing temperature and brazing time were 873 K (600 C) and 5 minutes, respectively. Gas contaminants in brazing atmospheres were measured using a quadruple mass spectrometer.
- OSTI ID:
- 7186208
- Journal Information:
- Welding Journal (Miami); (United States), Vol. 73:10; ISSN 0043-2296
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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