Joining of copper alloys and low-carbon steels by electrical resistance spot brazing

Abstract

The general problems related to electrical resistance brazing of various metals were considered in this paper. In brazing different electrodes and technological parameters are used. For experimental purposes, electrodes were made of highly alloyed tungsten steel and of copper with graphite and tungsten inserts, so the symmetrical temperature field was obtained. Success of brazing was determined by testing the mechanical properties, micro hardness and microstructure of the brazed joint. Hardness measurement results suggested the strain hardening of the steel thin sheets, what imposed necessity of recrystallization annealing. It was necessary to apply both the flux and the silver solder for joining, since copper and iron are poorly mutual-ly soluble. When the metallurgy problems were solved and the optimal brazing parameters se-lected, the optimal mechanical properties were achieved, which were experimentally confirmed.