Bond behaviors and effects of brass interlayer on contact reaction brazing of 6061 and AZ31 alloys

Abstract

Magnesium (Mg) and aluminum (Al) alloys were successfully contact reaction brazed (CRB) with the brass interlayer for the first time. By comparing joints brazed with and without the brass interlayer, we found that when no interlayer was used, the joints showed more precipitates and dispersoids, and inevitably Mg-Al intermetallic compounds (IMCs), with a shear strength of only 8 MPa. In contrast, the brass interlayer effectively inhibits the formation of Mg-Al IMCs, while ensuring that the brass is not completely consumed, metallurgical reactions occur with the base metal (BM) on both sides to form a well-bonded joint with a shear strength of 45 MPa, more than five times higher than the joint without brass interlayer.