Abstract
The effect of adding small amounts of rare earth Er on the microstructure of an Al-Cu-Si braze alloy has been investigated. Several Al-20Cu-7Si braze alloys containing various contents of Er were prepared, and their melting temperature, microstructure, hardness, and wettability in contact with 3003 aluminum alloy substrates were determined. The results indicate that the constituents of the microstructure of Al-20Cu-7Si-Er braze alloys are similar to those in the Al-20Cu-7Si alloy, and comprise of solid solutions of aluminum, silicon, and the intermetallic compound CuAl2. When the Er content increases, the size of the Al phase decreases, and the needle-like Si phase is thickened, and transformed to a blocky shape. Moreover, small amounts of Er can improve the wettability and hardness of the Al-20Cu-7Si braze alloy; however, the melting temperature of the Al-20Cu-7Si alloy does not change.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D.M. Jacobson, G. Humpston, and S.P.S. Sangha 1996 A New Low-Melting-Point Aluminum Braze, Weld. J., Vol. 75, pp. 243s–250s
T.H. Chuang, M.S. Yeh, L.C. Tsai, and C.S. Wu, Development of a Low-Melting-Point Filler Metal for Brazing Aluminum Alloys, Metall. Mater. Trans. A, Vol. 31A, 2239–2245, 2000.
S. Rajendra and S.N. Prasad 1989 Development of Aluminum Alloys with Rare Earth Additions. Light Metal Age, Vol. 47, No. 1-2, pp. 23–26
D.X. Tang, L.Q. Wang, M.S. Zhao, H.Y. Lu, M.L. Zhang, and M.J. Cui 1992 Rare Earth Aluminium Alloys in China. J. Chin. Rare Earth Soc. 10(1), 66–71
Z.R. Nie, T.N. Jin, J.X. Zou, J.B. Fu, J.J. Yang, and T.Y.Zuo 2003 Development on Research of Advanced Rare-Earth Aluminum Alloy. Trans. Nonfer. Metal. Soc. China, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 509–514
K. Noqita, S.D. McDonald, A.K. Dahle 2005 Eutectic Modification of Al-Si Alloys with Rare Earth Metals, Mater. Trans., Vol. 45, pp. 323–326
Z.R. Nie, B.L. Li, W. Wang, T.N. Jin, H. Huang, H.M. Li, J.X. Zou, and T.Y. Zuo, Study on the Erbium Strengthened Aluminum Alloy, Mater. Sci. Forum, 2007, pt. 2, p 623–628
S.H. Wang, H.P. Zhou, and Y.P. Kang 2003 The Influence of Rare Earth Elements on Microstructures and Properties of 6061 Aluminum Alloy Vacuum-Brazed Joints, J. Alloy. Compd., Vol. 352, No. 24, pp. 79–83
S.J. Dong, Y.W. Shi, Y.X. Kuang, and W.D. Zhou 1996 Effect of Rare-Earth Elements on the Properties of Low Temperature Aluminum-Based Brazing Filler Metals, Chin. Rare Earths, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 15–19
S.B. Xue, J. Dong, X.C. Lu, and W.H. Gu 2004 Reaction Behavior Between the Oxide Film of LY12 Aluminum Alloy and the Flux. China Weld., Vol. 13(1), pp. 36–40
Z. Chen, Y. Shi, Z. Xia, Y. Yan 2003 Properties of Lead-Free Solder SnAgCu Containing Minute Amounts of Rare Earth, J. Electr. Mater., Vol. 32, pp. 235–243
N. De Cristofaro and D. Bose, Brazing and Soldering with Rapidly Solidified Filler Metals, Proc. Conf. Rapidly Solidified Materials, San Diego, CA, 1986, p 415–424
X.P. Zhang, Y.W. Shi, Y.W. Ren 1996 Technological Performance of Nickel-Based Amorphous and Crystalline Brazing Filler Metals, Trans. China Weld. Inst., Vol. 17, pp. 205–211
Y.T. Ning, X.M. Zhou, H. Dai 1992 Metastable Extension of Solid Solubility of Rare Earth Elements in Al, Acta Metall. Sinica, Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. B95–B100
T.B. Massalski (Editor-in-chief), Binary Alloy Phase Diagrams, 2nd edn., The Materials Information Society, ASM International, 1996
Acknowledgment
The authors greatly appreciate the financial support from the PHR(IHLB), Beijing Education Committee.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shi, Y., Yu, Y., Li, Y. et al. Study on the Microstructure and Wettability of an Al-Cu-Si Braze Containing Small Amounts of Rare Earth Erbium. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 18, 278–281 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-008-9299-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-008-9299-0