Joining of SiO2f/SiO2 composite to Nb using Ag-Cu-In-Ti brazing alloys

Three compositions of Ag-Cu-In-Ti system brazing alloys were designed for joining SiO2 f/SiO2 ceramic composite to Nb metal.The wettability of the three alloys on the composite was studied with the sessile drop method.The results showed that after heating at 1073 K for 30 min,they exhibited contact angles of 74°,83° and 86°,respectively.The brazing alloys were fabricated into foils by rapid solidification technique.Among the three brazing filler alloys the joints brazed with AgCu-10 In-5 Ti at 1073 K for 10 min presented the maximum average shear strength of 30.9 MPa.During the brazing process the active element Ti diffused strongly from the filler alloy to the composite surface and a reaction layer with a thickness of 2-3 μm was formed.Sound metallurgical bonding was also achieved at the Nb side.The interface structure of the joint brazed with the AgCu-10 In-5 Ti alloy can be described as the following sequence:SiO2 f/SiO2→SiO2+Cu3 Ti3 O→SiO2+TiO+Ti5 Si4→Ag(s,s)+(Cu-Ti)→Nb.However,for the filler alloy with 4.0 wt% Ti content the joint strength was only 15.8 MPa.