Abstract
The effects of brazing filler metal diffusion on the mechanical strength of a ceramic/metal composite are described. First, a specimen of a SUS304/Cu/Si3N4 system, including brazing filler metals of AgCu and/or AgCuTi, was prepared by brazing in a vacuum furnace. Next, the vicinity of the joint parts was observed using field emission scanning electron microscopy. The brazing filler metals were found to diffuse into the Cu interlayer and ramify. In addition, a crack due to thermal stress resulting from a mismatch in thermal contraction between the materials present was observed around the AgCuTi/Si3N4 boundary. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis revealed that Ag atoms diffused into the Cu interlayer to form the solid solutions of Ag and Cu. Micro-Vickers hardness tests were conducted on the surface of the Cu interlayer in order to examine the effects of brazing alloy diffusion on the hardening of the Cu interlayer. It was found that the diffusion of the brazing filler metals enhanced the hardness of the Cu interlayer. Finally, numerical simulations were performed to verify the increase in thermal stress due to hardening of Cu, and this behavior was discussed using simple equations. The results of the experiments and numerical simulations showed that the mechanical strength of the SUS304/Cu/Si3N4 composite is subjected to the diffusion of brazing filler metals.
