Brazing characteristics, microstructure, and wettability of laser powder bed fusion additive manufactured GRCop-84 compared to CuCrZr and OFC, and brazing to titanium-zirconium-molybdenum alloy limiters

Seltzman, Andrew H.; Wukitch, S. J.

doi:10.1016/j.fusengdes.2022.113185

Title: Brazing characteristics, microstructure, and wettability of laser powder bed fusion additive manufactured GRCop-84 compared to CuCrZr and OFC, and brazing to titanium-zirconium-molybdenum alloy limiters

Journal Article · 03 June 2022 · Fusion Engineering and Design

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2022.113185 · OSTI ID:1977154

Seltzman, Andrew H. ^[1]; Wukitch, S. J. ^[2]

Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States); OSTI
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) of Glenn Research Copper 84 (GRCop-84), a Cr₂Nb (8 at. % Cr, 4 at. % Nb) precipitation hardened alloy, produces a fully dense, high conductivity alloy with a yield strength of 500 MPa and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 740 MPa with 20% elongation; superior to other competing copper alloys. Braze wetting characteristics of GRCop-84 with Ag-Cu-X, and Au-Cu brazes were similar to CuCrZr, but less than oxygen free copper. No difference in wetting was observed between infill and surface contour areas in L-PBF GRCop-84. Wet sanding to 240 grit (R_a=0.24 µm) was considered the optimal surface condition. Silver diffusing through GRCop-84 depleted Cr₂Nb precipitates from the copper grain and deposited agglomerations of coarsened precipitates within silver-rich regions of intergranular diffusion once a density threshold was reached. Microstructure modification was minimized with 50Au-50Cu braze implying that silver caused precipitate coarsening and agglomeration, and not high temperature exposure. Coarsened precipitates were observed on the surface within braze pools implying a contribution to braze wetting. Palcusil-25, Ticusil, CuSil-ABA, and 50Au-50Cu brazes were suitable for brazing to unplated Titanium-Zirconium-Molybdenum (TZM), while sulfamate nickel plating to allows wetting with CuSil or other non-active brazes. Additionally, vacuum brazing techniques were developed to join a 1 mm thick layer of TZM to the front of additive manufactured GRCop-84 waveguides considering the brazing characteristics of both GRCop-84, TZM, and internal stress from the difference in coefficient in thermal expansion.

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Research Organization:: General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

Grant/Contract Number:: FC02-04ER54698

OSTI ID:: 1977154

Journal Information:: Fusion Engineering and Design, Journal Name: Fusion Engineering and Design Journal Issue: C Vol. 180; ISSN 0920-3796

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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