Brazing compositions for ductile braze structures, and related processes and devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10549372-B2
Application number	US-201715474273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2017
Priority date	Mar 30, 2016
Publication date	Feb 4, 2020
Grant date	Feb 4, 2020

Abstract

This disclosure includes the description of a braze alloy composition. The braze composition contains nickel, about 5% by weight to about 25% by weight germanium; and about 1% by weight to about 4% by weight boron. The composition has an amorphous structure, and is free of silicon.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A braze alloy composition, comprising:
a combination of nickel and cobalt;
5% by weight to 25% by weight germanium; and
1% by weight to 4% by weight boron;
wherein the composition has an amorphous structure, and is free of silicon.

2. The braze alloy composition of claim 1 , further comprising chromium, at a level of 1% by weight to 40% by weight.

3. The braze alloy composition of claim 1 , having a composition free of active metals.

4. The braze alloy composition of claim 1 , free of palladium, gold, and aluminum.

5. The braze alloy composition of claim 1 , comprising at least 20% by weight nickel.

6. The braze alloy composition of claim 5 , comprising 60% to 90% by weight nickel.

7. The braze alloy composition of claim 1 , wherein the level of germanium is 10% by weight to 18% by weight.

8. The braze alloy composition of claim 1 , wherein the level of boron is 1.5% by weight to 3.5% by weight.

9. The braze alloy composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one refractory element selected from molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, and niobium.

10. The braze alloy composition of claim 9 , containing 1% by weight to 10% by weight (total) of the refractory elements.

11. A braze joint formed of the composition of claim 1 , having a microstructure that comprises a gamma nickel phase and a gamma prime (gamma′) Ni 3 Ge phase, wherein the Ni 3 Ge component is a precipitate present at levels between 1% by volume and 75% by volume.

12. A braze joint formed of the composition of claim 1 , joining a metallized ceramic component to a metal component.

13. The braze joint of claim 12 , wherein the metal for the metal component comprises nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, iron, nickel-cobalt ferrous alloys, mild steel, stainless steel, and various alloys of any of the foregoing.

14. The braze joint of claim 13 , wherein the ceramic and metal components are structures joined together in a medical device.

15. The braze joint of claim 12 , wherein the ceramic and metal components structures joined together in a turbine engine.

16. The braze joint of claim 12 , wherein the ceramic and metal components are structures joined together in a drilling, pumping or motor device for oil or gas exploration, or in a spectroscopic device.

17. The braze joint of claim 12 , wherein the ceramic and metal components each comprise at least one thermal battery structure selected from the group consisting of electrode compartments; sealing collar structures, sealing ring structures, and electrical current collectors.

18. The braze joint of claim 17 , wherein the thermal battery structure is a portion of a sodium-based thermal battery.

19. A braze joint formed of the composition of claim 1 , joining a metallized ceramic component to at least one other metallized ceramic component.

20. A braze joint of claim 19 , wherein each ceramic component independent comprises zirconia or a zirconia-based material; alumina; aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, porcelain, titanium carbide, silica, glass, ceramic matrix composites (CMC's), magnesium aluminate spinel, magnesium oxide, silicon nitride, an “MAX” phase material of the formula M n+1 AX n , where N is 1-3, M is an early transition metal, A is a group A element, and X is carbon or nitrogen; ceramic of the formula MX y , wherein M is a transitional metal; and X is carbon, boron, or nitrogen alpha-alumina structure; and alloys of any of the foregoing.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Kumar Sundeep
• Adharapurapu Raghavendra Rao

Classifications

• B23K35/025

  Pastes, creams or slurries · CPC title

• B23K35/0227

  Rods or wires (B23K35/0244 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K35/3033 Primary

  Ni as the principal constituent · CPC title

• B23K35/0222

  for use in soldering or brazing (B23K35/0205 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C22C19/007

  with a light metal (alkali metal Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs; earth alkali metal Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al Ga, Ge, Ti) or B, Si, Zr, Hf, Sc, Y, lanthanides, actinides, as the next major constituent · CPC title