K. S. Weil, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA; J. S. Hardy, Pacific Northwest National Laborotory, Richland, WA; J. T. Darsell, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
We have developed a new approach to ceramic brazing, referred to as air brazing, that employs an oxide compound dissolved in a molten noble metal solvent, in this case CuO in Ag, such that ready wetting occurs on a number of oxide substrates. Recently, we have examined the effects of various compositional changes to our standard formulation on the subsequent wetting characteristics of the braze. In light of this, we have focused on the ternary system, Pd-Ag-CuO, and are investigating associated phase equilibria using differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. Although no ternary compound was found, preliminary results suggest a eutectic reaction occurs in air at 1056°C: Ag/Pd(s) + CuO(s) = L. We will present results from our work in constructing isothermal sections of an initial ternary phase diagram for this system.
Summary: We have investigated the ternary system, Pd-Ag-CuO, using differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. Although no ternary compound was found, preliminary results suggest a eutectic reaction occurs in air at 1056°C: Ag/Pd(s) + CuO(s) = L.