Soldering and brazing (Topic: 17100)

Soldering and brazing are very suitable methods for joining aluminium in the following cases:

ñ Joining thin material

ñ Joining aluminium to other metals

ñ When welding temperatures are unsuitable

ñ Joining large surfaces

ñ Mass-production of small details

ñ Production of small complicated shapes with many joints

A properly made joint is:

ñ Comparatively strong

ñ Leak tight

ñ Conducting heat and electricity uniformly

ñ Corrosion resistant

Brazing and soldering of aluminium are normally performed with the same equipment and similar techniques to those used to join other metals. It should be remembered, however, that aluminium oxidises very rapidly, has a high thermal conductivity, has a high coefficient of thermal expansion and doesn't change colour as its temperature changes.

References: [2,4,5,7]