Abstract

Joining of AIN ceramics to W and Cu by active-metal brazing method was tried with use of (Ag-Cu)-Ti alloy as insert-metal. Joints were produced under various conditions of temperature, holding time and Ti-content in (Ag-Cu) alloy Reaction and microstructural development in bonded interface were investigated through observation and analysis by SEM/EDS, EPMA and XRD. Joint strengths were measured by shear test. Bonded interface consists of two layers: an insert-metal layer of eutectic Ag- and Cu-rich phases and a reaction layer of TiN. Thickness of reaction layer increases with bonding temperature, holding time and Ti-content of insert-metal. It was confirmed that the growth of reaction layer is a diffusion-controlled process. Activation energy for this process was 260 KJ/mol which is lower than that for N diffusion in TiN. Maximum shear strength of 108 MPa and 72 MPa were obtained for AIN/W and AIN/Cu joints, respectively. Relationship between processing variables, joint strength and thickness of reaction layer was also explained.