Forms of Brazing Alloy

Different brazing alloys are applied for brazing different types of similar and dissimilar metals. These brazing alloys possess lower melting point than that of metals to be joined. These alloys are available in a number of forms such as brazing paste, powder, stripe, rod, sheet, wire, etc. The selection of brazing alloys basically depends upon the requirements of various applications and brazing processes.

Brazing Paste
The paste used for brazing is a mixture of a neutral suspending agent, alloy powder and sometimes carefully formulated fluxes. At normal temperature, brazing paste remains in semi-solid state. It is required for several brazing processes like furnace brazing and other induction brazingapplications. During the use of brazing alloy in the form of paste, the alloy must be pre-positioned prior to heating.

Automatic Dispensing
Brazing paste is applied to the joint areas for the execution of a variety of dispensing systems. It can act as simple as a hand held pneumatic applicator and as complicated as a fully programmable robot which deposits the exact amount without any involvement of the operator.
Brazing paste is used in several brazing processes. They are:

Types of Brazing Paste
Brazing paste can be of various types depending upon their base metals and alloys. The characteristics of brazing pastes may vary due to the variations in the constituent elements of different alloys. This variation further results in different melting points. Hence, the selection of brazing pastes should be done by keeping the base metal's characteristics in mind. Since brazing pastes are directly based upon the constituent materials, they can be of various types including the following

Brazing Powder
Another significant form of brazing alloy is brazing powder. The use of brazing powder has its own advantages like they can be used without or no limitations to the shape, form or point of joints. It is also easier to apply even in those sections where some objects like complicated configured items are difficult to be arranged. Brazing powders are very sensitive to oxidation because of their form which cause a limited life and storage of the powder materials. The major drawback of using brazing powder is that approximately 30%-50% of the sprayed powder go waste and it can't be aggregated and utilized again.

Brazing powder has specific applications in the electronics sector. Highest purity elemental powder is used in such applications. Brazing powders can be used in a large number of joining applications. They are suitable for brazing a wide range of metals and alloys.

Types of Brazing Powder

Brazing Powder Standards

Other Forms of Brazing Alloys
Brazing paste and brazing powder are only two major forms of brazing alloys. There are many other forms of brazing alloys used in diffrent brazing processes. These include: