Intermetallic compounds formed during brazing of titanium with aluminium filler metals

Abstract

The effect of aluminium filler metal composition on the formation of AI-Ti intermetallic compounds was investigated in brazed aluminium-to-titanium (Al/Ti) joints and titanium-totitanium (Ti/Ti) joints. The clearance filling ability was also studied. In Ti/Ti joints, the thickness of the intermetallic compound layer was strongly dependent on the aluminium filler metal composition, whereas the clearance filling ability was independent of the composition. The maximum intermetallic compound layer thickness was observed in 99.99% highly pure aluminium filler metal; therefore all additional elements reduced the layer thickness. Above all, the addition of 0.8% Si greatly reduced the thickness. After brazing at 680° C for 3 min, the intermetallic compound formed by Al-0 to 0.8% Si filler metal was found to be of type Al₃Ti. Other compounds, of types Ti₉Al₂₃ and Ti₇Al₅Si₁₂, were also found in joints brazed by Al-3 to 10% Si filler metals. AI-0.8% Si filler metals maintained a higher joint strength than pure aluminium filler metal under brazing conditions of high temperature and long heating time. In Al/Ti joints, AI-Cu-Sn and AI-Cu-Ag filler metal mainly formed Al₃Ti, and Al-10Si-Mg filler metal mainly formed Ti₇Al₅Si₁₂ at the brazed interface of the titanium side after brazing at 600 to 620° C.