BRAZING ALLOY AND PROCESSES FOR MAKING AND USING

• US 20140048587A1
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joseph Sarazin, Rivest, Paul, Robert Biersteker
• Original Assignee: Joseph Sarazin, Rivest, Paul, Robert Biersteker
• Inventors: Rivest, Paul, Sarazin, Joseph, Biersteker, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/761,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20140048587A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 228/256
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 35/0222 for use in soldering, brazing B23K35/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 35/302 Cu as the principal constituent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/01 all layers being exclusively metallic making layered metal workpieces by pressure cladding B23K20/22; making coatings with a metallic material characterised by its composition C23C30/00
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 9/04 with zinc as the next major constituent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12222 Shaped configuration for melting [e.g., package, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12292 Workpiece with longitudinal passageway or stopweld material [e.g., for tubular stock, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12903 Cu-base component

Abstract

Disclosed is a brazing alloy composition. The composition comprises, by weight, about 94% copper, about 4% zinc, and about 2% iron. Further disclosed is a brazing process utilizing the brazing alloy, a method for the brazing alloy'"'"'s preparation and a work piece having members joined by the brazing alloy providing stronger bonding as demonstrated by braze joints having increased shear strength.

Claims

1. A copper-based brazing alloy comprising about 0.1 to 10 wt. % zinc, about 0.1 to about 4 wt. % iron, and the balance copper.

2. The brazing alloy of claim 1 having a form selected from the group consisting of a wrought form and a powder form.

3. The brazing alloy of claim 2, wherein the form selected is a wrought from having a shape selected from the group consisting of a wire, a strip, a tube, a slug and a foil.

4. The brazing alloy of claim 2, wherein the brazing alloy selected is a powder form formulated as a paste.

5. The brazing alloy of claim 1 comprising about 4 wt. % zinc, about 2 wt. % iron, and about 94 wt. % copper.

6. A brazing process comprising;

(a) providing members having at least two surfaces adapted for bonding and a brazing alloy;

(b) positioning a brazing alloy proximate the at least two surfaces adapted for bonding;

(c) heating the at least two members and the brazing alloy to a temperature sufficient to melt the brazing alloy; and

(d) cooling the members and the brazing alloy to solidify the brazing alloy, wherein the brazing alloy comprises about 0.1 to 10 wt. % zinc, about 0.1 to about 4 wt. % iron, and the balance copper.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein providing a brazing alloy involves providing a brazing alloy having a form selected from the group consisting of a wrought form and a powder form.

8. The process of claim 6, wherein providing a brazing alloy involves providing a brazing alloy comprising about 4 wt. % zinc, about 2 wt. % iron, and about 94 wt. % copper.

9. The process of claim 6, wherein heating the at least two members and the brazing alloy to a temperature sufficient to melt the brazing alloy involves heating the at least two members to a temperature of about 1910°

F. to about 2300°

F.

10. A method for preparing a brazing alloy comprising:

(a) forming a mixture containing about 0.1 to about 4 wt. % iron, about 0.1 to about 10 wt. % zinc, and the balance copper;

(b) heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to form a homogeneous molten mass; and

(c) transferring the molten mass into a three-dimensional form and solidifying said formed molten mass by cooling.

11. The method of claim 10, further involving a step of working the three-dimensional form into a wrought form.

12. The method of claim 10, further involving a step of grinding the three-dimensional form into a powder.

13. The method of claim 10, further involving a step of drawing the three-dimensional form into a wire.

14. A work piece including two members joined by a brazing alloy, wherein the brazing alloy comprises about 0.1 to 10 wt. % zinc, about 0.1 to about 4 wt. % iron, and the balance copper.

15. The work piece of claim 14, wherein the brazing alloy comprises about 4 wt. % zinc, about 2 wt. % iron, and about 94 wt. % copper.

16. The work piece of claim 14, wherein the brazing alloy is included in a gap between the two members forming a braze joint, and said gap is at least 0.002 of an inch.

17. The work piece of claim 16, wherein the braze joint has a shear strength of at least about 30 ksi.

18. The work piece of claim 14, wherein the brazing alloy further contains up to about 1 wt. % of individual components selected from the group consisting of silicon, manganese, aluminum, nickel, phosphorous, titanium, and combinations thereof, and the amount of copper contained in the brazing alloy is reduced by the amount of any additional selected components.

19. The work piece of claim 18, wherein the brazing alloy further contains up to about 0.2 wt. % of titanium.

20. The work piece of claim 14, wherein the work piece is a work piece selected from the group consisting of a torque converter, a muffler bracket, a fuel rail, an aircraft component, a water craft component, and a farm equipment component.