Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Ce Addition on the Microstructure and Properties of Ag17CuZnSn Filler Metal

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of trace amounts of rare earth element Ce on the wettability, mechanical properties and microstructure of Ag17CuZnSn filler metal was investigated systematically by means of microstructure and spectroscopic characterizations. H62 brass and 304 stainless steel were brazed with Ag17CuZnSn-xCe filler metals. The results indicate that wettability and oxidation resistance of filler metal are remarkably improved with adding trace amount of Ce. The shear strength of brazed joint increases 29% compared to that of brazed joint without adding Ce. Moreover, it is observed that the trace amount of Ce in Ag17CuZnSn filler metal refines the brazed joint matrix microstructure. The elements diffusion is examined during the brazing process. More Ce can diffuse into the stainless steel than that of either Cu or Zn. Compared to the Cu solid solution, Fe prefers to diffuse into the Ag solid solution. When the Ce content is 0.3 wt.%, some bright and brittle Ce-bearing particles appear in the bottom of dimples which deteriorate the shear strength of brazed joint. The results of this study can stimulate the use of low-silver brazing filler metals for various applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M.M. Schwartz, Brazing, ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2003, p 102–105

    Google Scholar 

  2. A. Khorram and M. Ghoreishi, Comparative Study on Laser Brazing and Furnace Brazing of Inconel 718 Alloys with Silver Based Filler Metal, Opt. Laser. Tchnol., 2014, 56, p p443–p450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. A. Winiowski, Mechanical and Structural Properties of Joints of Stainless Steel and Titanium Brazed with Silver Filler Metals Containing Tin, Arch. Metall. Mater., 2010, 55(4), p 991–1000

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. F. Sui, W. Long, S. Liu, G. Zhang, L. Bao, H. Li, and Y. Chen, Effect of Calcium on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Brazed Joint Using Ag-Cu-Zn Brazing Filler Metal, Mater. Des., 2013, 46, p 605–608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. B. Daly, Basics of Brazing with Induction Heating, Weld. J, 2013, 92, p 52–54

    Google Scholar 

  6. Z. Lai, S. Xue, X. Han, L. Gu, and W. Gu, Study on Microstructure and Property of Brazed Joint of AgCuZn- X (Ga, Sn, In, Ni) Brazing Alloy, Rare Metal. Mater. Eng., 2010, 39(3), p 397–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. L. Zhang, J. Feng, B. Zhang, and X. Jing, Ag-Cu-Zn Alloy for Brazing TiC Cermet/Steel, Mater. Lett., 2005, 59(1), p 110–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. B.D. Thorne and P.J. Hewitt, Chemical Composition and Particle Morphology of Brazing Fume from Cadmium Brazing Alloy and Fluoroborate Flux, Ann. Occup. Hyg., 1988, 32(4), p 489–497

    Google Scholar 

  9. T. Nishida, K. Kimura, and M. Inagaki, Behavior of Cadmium on Brazing, Quart. J. Japan Welding., 1994, 12, p 485–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. V.F. Khorunov, S.V. Maksymova, and B.V. Stefaniv, Effect of Palladium on Structure and Technological Properties of Ag-Cu-Zn-Ni-Mn System Brazing Filler Alloys, The Paton Welding J, 2012, 9, p 20–25

    Google Scholar 

  11. X. Ma, L.F. Li, Z.H. Zhang, H. Wang, E.Z. Wang, and T. Qiu, Microstructure and Melting Properties of Ag-Cu-In Intermediate-Temperature Brazing Alloys, Rare Met., 2015, 34(5), p 324–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. L.I. Zhuoran, N. Jiao, J. Feng, and Y. Chen, Effect of P and Rare-Earth La on Microstructure and Property of AgCuZnSn Brazing Alloy, Trans. China Weld. Inst., 2007, 28(12), p 1–4

    Google Scholar 

  13. C.M.L. Wu, D.Q. Yu, C.M.T. Law, and L. Wang, Properties of Lead-Free Solder Alloys with Rare Earth Element Additions, Mater. Sci. Eng., R, 2004, 44(1), p p41–p44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. C.Y. Yang, J.H. Xu, W.F. Ding, Z.Z. Chen, and Y.C. Fu, Effect of Cerium on Microstructure, Wetting and Mechanical Properties of Ag-Cu-Ti Filler Alloy, J. Rare. Earth, 2009, 27(6), p 1051–1055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. J. Cao, L.X. Zhang, H.Q. Wang, L.Z. Wu, and J.C. Feng, Effect of Silver Content on Microstructure and Properties of Brass/steel Induction Brazing Joint Using Ag-Cu-Zn-Sn Filler Metal, Corros. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2011, 27(4), p 377–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. GB/T 11364-2008, Test Method of Wettability for Brazing Filler Metals (China Standard Press)

  17. GB/T 11363-2008, Test Method of the Strength for Brazed and Soldered Joint (China Standard Press)

  18. GB/T 27552-2001, Destructive Tests on Welds in Metallic Materials-Microhardness Testing of Welded Joints (China Standard Press)

  19. D.K. Chattoraj, K.S. Birdi, Adsorption and the Gibbs Surface Excess (1984)

  20. Y.H. Hu, S.B. Xue, H. Ye, and Z.X. Xiao, Reliability Studies of Sn-9Zn/Cu and Sn-9Zn-0.06Nd/Cu Joints with Aging Treatment, Mater. Des., 2012, 34, p p768–p775

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. A.Z. Al-Yaseri, H. Roshan, M. Lebedev, A. Barifcani, and S. Iglauer, Dependence of Quartz Wettability on Fluid Density, Geophys. Res. Lett., 2016, 43(8), p 3771–3776

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Z. Han, S. Xue, L. Liu, J. Wang, Y. Wu, and X. Huang, Effects of Micro-Amount of Cerium on Microstructures of Sn-Ag-Cu Solder and Soldered Joint, J. Rare Earths, 2006, 24(2), p 232–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. W.X. Chen, S. Xue, H. Wang, Y.H. Hu, and J. Wang, Effects of Rare Earth Ce on Properties of Sn-9Zn Lead-Free Solder, J. Mater. Sci.: Mater. Electron., 2010, 21(7), p 719–725

    Google Scholar 

  24. L. Zhang, J.G. Han, Y.H. Guo, and L. Sun, Reliability of SnAgCu/SnAgCuCe Solder Joints with Different Heights for Electronic Packaging, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron., 2014, 25(10), p 4489–4494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. P. Boulet, D. Mazzone, H. Noël, P. Riani, P. Rogl, and R.Ferro, The System Ce-Ag-Sn: Phase Equilibria and Magnetic Properties, Intermetallics, 1999, 7(8), p 931–935

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. H. Wang, K. Wang, R. Zheng, K.S. Prasad, and S.P. Ringer, Microscopic Bonding Mechanism of Welding Interface with Molten Cu-4Zn Deposited on Solid-State Steel, Mater. Charact., 2008, 59(5), p 542–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. I. Magnabosco, P. Ferro, F. Bonollo, and L. Arnberg, An Investigation of Fusion Zone Microstructures in Electron Beam Welding of Copper–Stainless Steel, Mater. Sci., 2006, 424(1), p 163–173

    Google Scholar 

  28. J. Feng, S. Xue, and D. Wei, Reliability Studies of Cu/Al Joints Brazed with Zn-Al-Ce Filler Metals, Mater. Des., 2012, 42, p 156–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51375233 and Grant No. 51575016), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (General Financial Grant 2014M550289, Special Financial Grant 2015T80548) and Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD), P.R. China. The authors specially thank to Zhejiang Metallurgical Research Institute Co., Ltd for the assistance in providing experimental facilities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Materials Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 210016, China

    Chaoli Ma, Songbai Xue & Bo Wang

  2. Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville, 1512 Middle Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA

    Chaoli Ma & Anming Hu

  3. Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding Technology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, 212003, China

    Jianxin Wang

Authors
  1. Chaoli Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Songbai Xue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bo Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jianxin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anming Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Songbai Xue or Anming Hu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ma, C., Xue, S., Wang, B. et al. Effect of Ce Addition on the Microstructure and Properties of Ag17CuZnSn Filler Metal. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 26, 3180–3190 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-017-2761-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-017-2761-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation