Design and Manufacturing of Brazed Joint to Study the Effect of Varying Joint Clearance on Joint Quality | Original Article

ABSTRACT:

Oxygen Free Electronic (OFE) Copper is widely used for manufacturing of room temperature accelerator components due to its high electrical conductivity. Joining of different sections of accelerator parts are preferably done by brazing. Successful brazing depends upon factors like flow of brazing filler metal, capillary action, brazing atmosphere, joint design, and joint clearance. In brazing, joint should exhibit proper joint strength and leak tightness under operating conditions. In this context, a study is being conducted to estimate the effect of varying joint clearance on joint strength, leak tightness and flow of molten filler metal. To qualify the brazed joint, samples have been designed and machined for tensile testing, shear testing, leak tightness and metallographic examinations. Brazing would be carried out in vacuum and hydrogen atmosphere. Tensile and shear strength samples would assess the brazed joint strength. Further, brazed joint would be evaluated by metallographic techniques to check flow of molten filler metal. Specimens would also be tested by Helium Mass Spectrometer Leak Detection (MSLD) test for leak tightness. The results would help assess the effect of braze gap on the quality of braze joints.