Active metal brazing is used mainly for joining ceramics that are not wetted by 'conventional' brazes. In active metal brazing, a metal (usually titanium) is added to the braze alloy to promote reaction and wetting with a ceramic substrate. The addition of titanium to several braze alloy compositions results in increased reactivity and considerable improvement in wetting behaviour. The ceramic is wet by the formation of an intermetallic interfacial reaction product which can then form a joint with the braze alloy.
The most well-established active metal brazes are based on the Ag-Cu eutectic alloy, to which 1-5 wt% titanium is added. These form the basis of a range of commercially available brazes which wet zirconia and other ceramics such as alumina, silicon carbide, silicon nitride and diamond.
The reactivity of these active metal braze alloys requires the brazing operation to be carried out in a vacuum, or an inert gas atmosphere. Brazing temperatures are typically 50-100°C above the liquidus of the braze alloy.
Sigma Advanced Materials located near Buffalo NY is our trusted Active Metal Brazing partner. Contact us at engineering@pacificadvanced.com for an introduction to the engineering specialists at Sigma Advanced Materials.
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