Brazing and Soldering Services Information

Brazing and soldering services use welding techniques and related processes to fabricate parts and join components. There are several types of brazing and soldering services. Examples include aluminum brazing, silver brazing, titanium brazing, gas torch brazing, vacuum brazing, reflow soldering, wave soldering, and resistance soldering. Brazing services include silver brazing, which is a popular method for joining or bonding ferrous and non-ferrous base metals like steel, stainless steel, copper, and brass. Silver brazing is typically performed on automatic machines for cost-efficient metal joining at high production rates. Titanium brazing provides a corrosion resistance, lightweight and high strength bond that makes titanium especially attractive in aerospace and chemical applications. Vacuum brazing is one of the strongest bonding methods available for metal joining. Reflow soldering is the melting, joining, and solidification of two coated metal layers by application of heat to the surface and pre-deposited solder paste. Wave soldering is a manufacturing operation in which solder joints are soldered simultaneously using a wave of molten solder. Resistance soldering is a process in which the heat needed to melt the solder is developed by the resistance of the material when a large electrical current is supplied. Other brazing and soldering services are commonly available.  Brazing and soldering services are performed in a variety of ways. Silver brazing is a joining process whereby a non-ferrous filler metal, alloy is heated to melting temperature (above 800 °F) and distributed between two or more close-fitting parts by capillary attraction. Silver brazing utilizes various heat sources such as torch, flame, acetylene, gas/air, induction, resistance, infrared, oven, and furnace. Silver brazing uses filler metals and alloys including silver, copper, zinc, and cadmium. Titanium brazing to metals use alloys that are titanium-base (70Ti-15Cu-15Ni), silver-base, or aluminum-base. A titanium-base alloy requires temperatures in the vicinity of 1700 °F, whereas the silver and aluminum-base alloys require 1650 °F and 1100- 1250 °F. Vacuum brazing provides a hermetically sealed, diffusion bonded joint area for machined, cast, formed and stamped parts and tubing. Assemblies are clean and bright after vacuum brazing. Vacuum brazing utilized when minimal distortion is important. The goal of reflow soldering is to melt the powder particles in a solder paste, wet the surfaces being joined together, and solidify the solder to create a strong metallurgical bond. There are four process zones in the conventional reflow process: preheat, thermal soak, reflow, and cooling. Wave soldering involves soldering wets to exposed metallic areas of a board, creating a reliable mechanical and electrical connection. The wave soldering process is much faster and can create a higher quality product than manual soldering of components. Resistance soldering uses the IV or I2R heating generated when an electrical current is flowed through one work piece, the joint, and then the other work piece. Resistance soldering is applied to electrically conductive materials that enable the passage of electric current. Resistance soldering is used for selective spot soldering of small components, for the soldering of closely placed parts on an assembly, or for heat restriction when necessary. Brazing and soldering services are available to meet most industry brazing and soldering needs.

Brazing and soldering services are used in many applications. Examples include aerospace, agriculture, space program, and semiconductor manufacturing applications. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established several guidelines for brazing and soldering services.