Low-Temperature Alloy for Brazing Aluminum Components
October 1, 2009Comments
Lucas-Milhaupt, Inc., Milwaukee, WI, has introduced an option for brazing aluminum components, Handy One alloy AL-822. The low-temperature alloy is provided in a number of forms including spooled flux-cored wire, flux-cored rods and flux-cored preforms. Company engineers can assist in proper alloy selection, joint design and preform design for optimizing the brazing process. In addition to common chemical compositions, Lucas-Milhaupt can provide flexible flux and alloy compositions of AlZnSi and AlZn to satisfy particular application needs.
The company provided an example of how the alloy works. A large HVAC OEM manufacturer faced difficulties converting HVAC coils from copper to aluminum. A major concern was the small temperature window between the melting point of the aluminum base metal and traditional aluminum braze filler metals, and operating within this window would have forced the manufacturer to replace its capital equipment.
Using the alloy provided a larger temperature window to braze aluminum coils without overheating the aluminum base metal. Preproduction trials showed that the alloy met the manufacturer’s strength, corrosion and production-line requirements. Lucas Milhaupt engineers assisted in equipment setup and the design of the aluminum flux-cored preform brazing ring to meet the performance criteria of the OEM.
Lucas-Milhaupt, Inc.: 800/558-3856; www.lucasmilhaupt.com
See also: Lucas- Milhaupt
Technologies: Materials, Welding and Joining
