Flux-free brazing of Mg-containing aluminium alloys by means of cold spraying

Abstract

In the present study, AlSi12 and AlSi10Cu4 were deposited onto Mg-containing aluminium alloys 6063 and 5754 by cold spraying. The influences of the two brazing alloys and spray parameters on coating formation were investigated. The microstructure of the coatings was characterized. Some coated samples were heat-treated at 590°C and 560°C in air to investigate the effect of the rupture of oxide scales on the diffusion of elements during heat-treatment. Some coated samples were brazed under argon atmosphere without any fluxes. The results show that AlSi12 had much better deposition behaviour than AlSi10Cu4. Due to the rupture of oxide scales, Cu and Si diffused into the substrate and a metallurgical bond formed between the brazing alloys and the substrates during heat-treatment. The coated samples could be brazed without any fluxes. Because the oxide scales prevented the formation of a metallurgical bond locally, the brazed samples had relatively low shear strengths of up to 43 MPa.

Keywords

aluminium alloys / flux-free brazing / cold spraying