Abstract
The liquid phase bonding in air of unreinforced and fibre reinforced aluminium using interlayers of Cu-Ag alloy has been investigated. Bond strengths were measured using a simple shear jig and the associated microstructures characterised by electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis. A shear strength of 65 MN m-2 was achieved when bonding unreinforced aluminium at 510°C using a 50 μm thick alloy interlayer, and a pressure of 10 MPa for 30 min; the bonded region covered ∼85% of the area of the joint. With reinforced aluminium, a bonding pressure of 20 MPa was required to achieve sufficient contact and a similar area of bond; after application of pressure for 30 min at 510°C, a shear strength of 54 MN m-2 was developed at the joint. The diffusional behaviour and interphase reactions which occurred during the process are discussed and a mechanism for bonding proposed.
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