• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.1083-1091
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• 1988

Vacuum brazing is the most modern brazing process and is at present, far from being completely understood. By brazing under high vacuum, in an atmosphere free of oxidizing gases, a superior product with greater strength, ductility and uniformity can be obtained. In this study, the influence of brazing parameters such as base metal characteristics, joint clearance and brazing time were described in relation to the metallurgical phenomena and shear strength of vacuum-brazed joints between carbon steels and 304 stainless steel (SUS 304) brazed by copper filler metal. In copper brazing of SUS 304 to a medium carbon steel(M.C.S) the columnar Fe-Cr-Ni-Cu-C alloy structure was formed and grew from the M.C.S side and at the same time, the surface of M.C.S. was decarbonized. The driving force for the formation and growth of columnar structure was the difference of carbon content between base metals. As the joint clearance is narrower and brazing time is longer, the formation and growth of columnar phase and decarburization of carbon steels were more noticeable. Because of decarburization of carbon steels, the shear strength of brazed joints were reduced as the formation of columnar structure was increased.