Abstract
For an alloy to be classified as an 18 carat yellow gold solder it must have a melting point below 450 °C, contain 75 wt% gold and have a colour that matches the hue of the jewellery gold. The constitution that the alloy must possess in order to have these properties is established. No known alloy simultaneously satisfies all three necessary criteria and it is argued that none is likely to exist.
However, it may be possible to formulate low melting point 22 carat gold solders. An alternative joining technology, diffusion soldering, is capable of meeting the essential requirements for joining articles of 18 carat gold and its capabilities are described.
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Humpston, G., Jacobson, D.M. Do 18 carat gold solders exist?. Gold Bull 27, 110–116 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03214731
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03214731