Effect of brazing temperature on tensile strength and microstructure for a stainless steel plate-fin structure

This paper presented a vacuum brazing technology for 304 stainless steel plate-fin structures with BNi2 filler metal. The effect of brazing temperature on tensile strength and microstructure has been investigated. The tensile strength is increased along with the increasing of brazing temperature. The microstructure is very complex and some Boride compounds are generated in the brazed joint. Full solid solution can be generated in the middle zone of joint when the brazing temperature is increased to 1100 °C. The brittle phases always exist in the fillet no matter how the brazing temperature changes, but the microstructure in fillet becomes more uniform and the tensile strength is increased with the brazing temperature increasing. In total, the brittle Boride compounds are decreased with the brazing temperature increase. Brazing with a filler metal thickness 105 μm and 25 min holding time, 1100 °C is the best suitable brazing temperature and a tensile strength of 82.1 MPa has been achieved for 304 stainless steel plate-fin structure.