What Metals Are Best For Brazing?
Companies that rely on contract manufacturers to produce their parts and components need to be confident that every piece meets the highest standards. For those in the automotive industry, quality is non-negotiable. One critical process that demands the utmost attention to detail is controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB), and the choice of materials plays a pivotal role in achieving superior results.
In this blog post, we’ll explore what controlled atmosphere brazing is and what to look for in the right brazing materials.
Controlled Atmosphere Brazing: A Brief Overview
Controlled Atmosphere Brazing (CAB) is a specialized and precise joining process used to create strong, hermetically sealed bonds between metals. Unlike traditional welding methods, brazing involves melting a filler metal that flows into the joint between two base metals, creating a robust connection without melting the base metals themselves. What sets CAB apart is the controlled atmosphere used during the process.
During CAB, the brazing furnace maintains a specific atmosphere, typically a mixture of inert gases such as nitrogen and hydrogen, to eliminate oxides and impurities that could compromise the quality of the brazed joint. This controlled environment prevents oxidation and ensures a clean, reliable bond that meets stringent automotive industry standards.
Choosing The Right Filler Materials For Brazing
The choice of metals for brazing depends on the specific application and requirements, but some metals are commonly used due to their favorable properties for the brazing process. The best metals for brazing typically possess the following characteristics:
- Compatibility with Base Metals: The filler metal must be compatible with the base metals being joined to ensure a strong bond.
- Lower Melting Point: The filler metal should have a lower melting point than the base metals to prevent the base metals from melting during the brazing process. This ensures that the joint is formed without compromising the integrity of the components.
- Wettability: The filler metal should have good wettability, meaning it can flow and spread easily over the surfaces to be joined. This promotes the formation of a uniform and strong bond.
- Corrosion Resistance: Depending on the application, it may be essential for the filler metal to have corrosion-resistant properties to ensure the longevity and reliability of the brazed joint, especially in environments where exposure to moisture or aggressive chemicals is a concern.
- Strength and Ductility: The filler metal should provide a joint with the required mechanical properties, such as strength and ductility, to meet the demands of the specific application.
- Thermal Conductivity: In applications where heat transfer is important, such as in heat exchangers, materials with high thermal conductivity are preferred.
Intran Uses Copper As A Filler Metal For Controlled Atmosphere Brazing
Intran offers controlled atmosphere copper brazing in hydrogen and nitrogen atmospheres, as well as continuous belt furnace brazing. All of our copper brazing processes produce permanent joints that are robust, leak-proof, and capable of withstanding extreme temperatures.
We offer copper brazing for a variety of parts made from carbon steel, cast iron, stainless steel, and nickel alloys in a variety of applications in the automotive, agricultural, marine, and power sports industries. Our brazing furnace can hold parts up to 5 feet in length with a height of 6 inches and a width of 12 inches.
Intran Provides High-Quality Products Using Controlled Atmosphere Brazing
Contact us if you would like to know more about our controlled atmosphere brazing methods or have additional questions about our manufacturing processes and the solutions we provide. We offer a variety of manufacturing capabilities and services and have nearly 50 years of experience manufacturing products for automotive OEMs and aftermarket manufacturers.