The influence of brazing conditions on joint strength in Al2O3/Al2O3 bonding

The brazing of alumina ceramic to itself was performed using Ag₅₇Cu₃₈Ti₅ filler alloy. The bonding was carried out in a vacuum of 7 × 10^?3 Pa, and the joining conditions were at 1073, 1123, 1173, 1223, 1273 and 1323 K for 1.8ks under a pressure of 0.01 MPa, at 1123 K with a pressure of 0.01 MPa for 0, 0.3, 0.9, 1.8, 2.7 and 3.6 ks, and at 1123 K for 1.8 ks with pressures of 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.30 MPa, to determine the effects of joining temperature, pressure and holding time on the joint strength. The joint strength was measured by shear tests. The interface microstructures and fractured surfaces after testing were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was shown that the shear strength of Al₂O₃/Al₂O₃ joints was largely affected by the joining conditions; it first increased and then decreased with increasing joining temperature, pressure and holding time and depended mainly on the strength of interfacial reaction layer itself and the interface bonding strength between the reaction layer and the ceramic. The maximum joint strength was obtained when the reaction occurred under a suitable temperature, pressure and time, and the reaction layer thickness was about 2 μm. SEM observations revealed that there were four types of fracture and each kind corresponded to a different strength.