Selection of soldering temperature for ultrasonic-assisted soldering of 5056 aluminum alloy using Zn-Al system solders

The conditions for sound butt-joints of 5056 aluminum alloy containing 4.6 mass% Mg using Zn-xAl (x = 5, 13, and 38 mass%) solder at the relevant temperatures were investigated. Each solder foil was inserted between faying surfaces of 5056 aluminum rods. Ultrasonic vibration at a frequency of 19 kHz was applied to the faying surfaces through an aluminum substrate at soldering temperatures for 4 s in air. The strength of obtained solder joints was measured by tensile tests. The microstructure in the solder layer after the soldering process was evaluated with an SEM-EDX. The results of tensile tests revealed that joints soldered under the liquidus temperature of Zn-Al solders showed higher strength than joints soldered over the liquidus temperature. In the joints soldered over the solder liquidus temperature, the joint strength decreased with an increase in soldering temperature. It was caused by the formation of MgZn₂ in the solder layer due to dissolution of 5056-Al into the solder liquid during the soldering process. On the other hand, ultrasonic-assisted soldering under the solder liquidus temperature suppressed dissolution of 5056-Al and improved the joint strength by reducing the formation of MgZn₂.