Numerical Simulation of Brazing Aluminium Alloys with Al–Si Alloys

Jacques Lacaze (1) , Bruno Jacques (1, 2) , Thierry Mazet (2) , Michael Vynnycky (3)

1 CIRIMAT - Centre interuniversitaire de recherche et d'ingenierie des matériaux
2 Fives Cryo
3 KTH - KTH Royal Institute of Technology [Stockholm]

Joining parts using low-melting temperature alloys has long been used for manufacturing complex components such as heat exchangers made of aluminium alloys. Investigations of the process have shown that core/ clad interaction during heating and brazing can lead to a significant decrease in the amount of liquid available for joint formation. This study presents a transient one-dimensional model for the process that takes into account the diffusion of silicon and the movement of the core/clad interface, with the model equations being implemented in the finite element software COMSOL Multiphysics; the results are compared to literature experimental data. Silicon profiles in the core are well described, while there appears a significant difference between predicted and experimental values of remaining clads which suggest a strong effect of silicon diffusion and liquid penetration at core grain boundaries.

Mots clés: Brazing; Aluminium alloys; Solid-state diffusion; Melting

Domaines: Génie des procédés; Matériaux

Jacques Lacaze, Bruno Jacques, Thierry Mazet, Michael Vynnycky. Numerical Simulation of Brazing Aluminium Alloys with Al–Si Alloys. Transactions of the Indian Institute of Metals, 2018, 71 (11), pp.2623-2629. ⟨10.1007/s12666-018-1415-8⟩. ⟨hal-01994074⟩