Oxidation behaviour of titanium-containing brazing filler metals

Abstract

Brazements on alumina or partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) of four silver- or copper-based brazing filler metals that contain titanium to promote wetting of and adherence to structural ceramics, were exposed in a thermogravimetric analyser at temperatures up to 700°C to atmospheres of 100% O₂, Ar-20% O₂ and Ar-3 p.p.m. O₂. The alloys included Cu-41.1Ag-3.6Sn-7.2Ti, Ag-44.4Cu-8.4Sn-0.9Ti, Ag-41.6Cu-9.7Sn-5.0Ti and Ag-37.4Cu-10.8In-1,4Ti, at%. All formed external oxides that were more or less protective under all of the test conditions studied. The growth of the oxides followed a parabolic time law. The gains in weight due to oxidation observed were small, ranging (for 45 h exposure at 400 °C to Ar-20% O₂) from 0.20 mgcm⁻² for the Ag-37.4Cu-10.8In-1.4Ti alloy to 0.46 mgcm⁻² for Cu-41.1Ag-3.6Sn-7.2Ti. As expected, weight gain increased with increasing temperature or$P_{O_2 }$. Unexpectedly, the titanium played a minor role in the scale formed on any of the filler metals with a titanium oxide, TiO₂, being found on only one alloy — Ag-41.6Cu-9.7Sn-5.0Ti. The brazements on PSZ gained weight at a higher rate than comparative brazements on alumina. We attribute this behaviour to oxygen transport through the zirconia resulting in the growth of an interfacial layer of titanium oxide.