Furnace brazing type 304 stainless steel to vanadium alloy (V–5Cr–5Ti)

In this investigation, pure copper was joined to type 304 stainless steel and V–5Cr–5Ti by brazing in a high vacuum furnace. Microstructural changes in the brazed region and surrounding substrates were examined as a function of holding time at temperatures of 20°C, 40°C and 60°C above the melting point of copper. Reaction layers, which were extremely brittle, formed between the Cu and V–5Cr–5Ti substrates. The formation of intermetallic phases at the filler metal/substrate interfaces was evaluated. Additionally, precipitates (FeCu2 and FeCu18) formed in the Cu rich filler region. For temperatures ⩾60°C above the melting point of Cu, extensive transverse cracking was observed. Hardness tests substantiated the hypothesis that the Cu/V–5Cr–5Ti reaction layer was extremely brittle, since micro-cracks propagated from the tips of the diamond-shaped indentations. Results of mechanical properties tests of the brazed material are also presented.