Copper brazing

Silver and its alloys and compounds have numerous applications. As a precious metal, silver is used in jewelry. Also, one of its alloys, sterling silver, containing 92.5 weight % silver and 7.5 weight % copper, is a jewelry item and is used in tableware and decorative pieces. The metal and its copper alloys are used in coins. Silver-copper brazing alloys and solders have many applications. They are used in automotive radiators, heat exchangers, electrical contacts, steam tubes, coins, and musical instruments. 

Certain alloys of iron, nickel, and cobalt (Kovar, Fernico, etc.) have thermal expansion curves which nearly match those of borosilicate glasses, and a good bond may be formed between the two. Kovar is similar to carbon steel in its chemical properties. For example, it oxidizes when heated in air and is not wet by mercury. It may be machined, welded, copper brazed, and soft soldered. Silver solders should not be used with Kovar since they may cause embrittlement. At low temperatures Kovar undergoes a phase transformation, and the change in expansion coefficient below this temperature may be sufficient to cause failure of a glass-to-Kovar seal. The transformation temperature usually is below... 

G. Nickel. Nickel (nip 1,453°C), finds its primary use in the construction of apparatus to handle fluorine and volatile fluorides. In this situation the metal is rendered passive by a fluorine coating. Nickel plating is easily performed and provides a means of imparting corrosion resistance. The metal may be machined, silver soldered, copper brazed, or welded. However, the weld should be performed on clean surfaces because the presence of impurities containing lead, sulfur, phosphorus, and various low-melting metals leads to embrittlement and failure at the weld. 

SINTEF Energy Research has taken a similar course, and is aiming at a unit with a maximum LNG capacity about 400 kg/h. Oil-lubricated screw compressors and copper-brazed plate heat exchangers are used, so far in a pilot plant with a production rate of 50 kg/h LNG as shown on Figure 20 [24]... 

Figure 20 Small-scale LNG concept developed by SINTEF using basically standard refrigeration equipment such as copper-brazed heat exchangers and oil-lubricated screw compressors in order to suppress investment cost. The cycle uses a mixed refrigerant (N2, C1 C2, C3, C4), and will require about 0.6 kWh per kg LNG.

Cubond. [SCM Metal Prods.] Copper brazing paste. 

Active metal brazing (AMB) is a process to braze metals, such as Kovar , titanium, copper, and molybdenum, to ceramics. The process does not require a metallization on the ceramic. For this chapter, only copper brazing will be addressed. The AMB process is used by some manufacturers as an alternative to DBC as it provides higher adhesive strength while using a less critical furnace profile. It also does not rely on oxide formation as in the DBC process. 

Boric acid is used to make heat-resistant glass. It is used in porcelain enamels and glass fibers. Boric acid is also used in metallurgy, in welding flux, and in copper brazing, in addition, boric acid is used in flame-retarding textile products. 

But not until the following summer did this program get actively under way. In the manufacture of this bomb, no less than in the M69, difficulties arose. For example, the copper brazing of the bomb presented a problem. It was essential that all components fit correctly before the brazing operation, which was carried out in special electrical furnaces built by the General Electric Co. The CWS had to furnish the contractors with these furnaces and most of the other equipment used in making the bomb. The most serious problem encountered in the bomb body was the fabrication of the nosecup. This cup, which measured 3 Vi inches in length by 2V4 inches in diameter, with a wall thickness of Vi inch, required 17 different operations. Since ordinary steel dies could not stand the strain, carboloy dies were developed. 

Copper and tin phosphides are used as deoxidants in the production of the respective metals, to increase the tensile strength and corrosion resistance in phosphor bronze [12767-50-9] and as components of brazing solders (see Solders and brazing alloys). Phosphor bronze is an alloy of copper and 1.25—11 wt % tin. As tin may be completely oxidized in a copper alloy in the form of stannic oxide, 0.03—0.35 wt % phosphoms is added to deoxidize the alloy. Phosphor copper [12643-19-5] is prepared by the addition of phosphoms to molten copper. Phosphor tin [66579-64-4] 2.5—3 wt % P, is made for the deoxidation of bronzes and German silver. 

The atomic radius of silver (144 pm) is within about 15% of many elements, permitting sofid solutions with Al, Au, Be, Bi, Cu, Cd, Ge, In, Mn, Pb, Pd, Pt, Sb, Sn, Th, and Zn. These metals form useful braziag, jewelry, and soldering alloys. Copper is the only metal with which silver forms a simple eutectic between two sofid solutions (Pig. 3). Silver has extremely limited solubiUtyia B, C, Co, Cr, Pe, Ge, Ir, Ni, Mg, Mo, Se, Si, Te, Ti, and W. Thus these metals may be brazed by silver alloys without serious erosion during welding (qv). 

Tin [7440-31 -5] is one of the world s most ancient metals. When and where it was discovered is uncertain, but evidence points to tin being used in 3200—3500 BC. Ancient bron2e weapons and tools found in Ur contained 10—15 wt % tin. In 79 ad, Pliny described an alloy of tin and lead now commonly called solder (see Solders and brazing alloys). The Romans used tinned copper vessels, but tinned iron vessels did not appear until the fourteenth century in Bohemia. Tinned sheet for metal containers and tole (painted) ware made its appearance in England and Saxony about the middle of the seventeenth century. Although tinplate was not manufactured in the United States until the early nineteenth century, production increased rapidly and soon outstripped that in all other countries (1). 

Silver Brazed Joints These are similar to soldered joints except that a temperature of about 600°C (1100°F) is required. A 15 percent silver, 80 percent copper, 5 percent phosphorus solder is used for copper and copper alloys, while 45 percent silver, 15 percent copper, 16 percent zinc, 24 percent cadmium solders are used for copper, copper alloys, carbon steel, and alloy steel. Silver-brazed joints are used for temperatures up to 200°C (400°F). Cast-bronze fittings and valves with preinserted rings of 15 percent silver, 80 percent copper, 5 percent phosphorus brazing alloy are available. 

Pressure-temperature ratings for soldered and brazed copper-tubing joints are given in Tables 10-47 and 10-48 respectively. 

Maximum recommended pressure-temperature ratings for brazed joints made with copper tubing and copper or copper-alloy fittings and using representative commercial brazing alloys... 

Ferrous-aUoy-clad tube sheets are generally prepared by a weld overlay process in which the alloy material is deposited by welding upon the face of the tube sheet. Precautions are required to produce a weld deposit free of defects, since these may permit the process fluid to attack the base metal below the alloy. Copper-aUoy-clad tube sheets are prepared by brazing the alloy to the carbon steel backing material. 

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