Investigation on Corrosion Behaviour of Copper Brazed Joints

Abstract

DHP (Deoxidized High Phosphorus(copper is widely used in various heat transfer units such as, air conditioners, refrigerators, evaporators and condensers. Copper sheets and tubes (ISODHP) were brazed with two different brazing alloys. Corrosion resistances of the joints were examined by polarization test. The selected fillers consisted of a silver-based brazing alloys (hard solder); AWS-BCu5, and a copper-based filler AWS BCuP2. All the joints were brazed utilizing two different brazing processes including furnace brazing under argon and air atmosphere. All of the fillers were used with and without flux. The microstructure of the brazed sheets was examined using both optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Hardness and leak tests were carried out on all the brazed tubes. In all brazing alloys selective and galvanic corrosion were observed in filler metals, but in copper phosphor alloys the copper adjacent to the joints were noticeably corroded by pitting method. It was found that the samples brazed with BAg5 filler metal using argon furnace show a higher resistance to corrosion. They also have a good ductility in the brazed zone.