Influence of laser energy input mode on joint interface characteristics in laser brazing with Cu-base filler metal

The flange butt joints of 1 mm-thick galvanized steel sheets were brazed with CuSi3 as filler metal at different laser heating modes. The microstructures and element distributions of joint interface were investigated by SEM and EDS. The results show that there is no obvious interface layer with the circular individual beam heating and lamellar Fe-Si intermetallic compound layer is found with dual-beam laser spot heating. With the irradiation of rectangular laser spot, the joint interface layer is also formed. The layer thickness is larger than that of dual-beam brazing and the layer shape is flat so that intermetallic compounds trend to grow into cellular crystals. Moreover, the interface layer shape also depends on its position in the joint. Under the high heat input, dendritic or granular intermetallic compounds dispersively distribute in brazing seam adjacent to the interface, which is caused by the melting or dissolving of the base metal. According to the results, the brazing quality can be controlled by laser heating mode and processing parameters.