Research on a Low Melting Point Al-Si-Cu (Ni) Filler Metal for 6063 Aluminum Alloy Brazing

A new type of low melting point Al-Si-Cu (Ni) filler metal for brazed 6063 aluminum alloy was designed, and the microstructure and properties of the filler metal were systematically studied. The results show that when the content of Cu in the Al-Si-Cu filler metal increased from 10 wt.% to 20 wt.%, the liquidus temperature of the filler metal decreased from 587.8 °C to 533.4 °C. Its microstructures were mainly composed of the α-Al phase, a primary Si phase, and a θ(Al2Cu) phase. After a proper amount of Ni was added to the Al-Si-20Cu filler metal, its melting range was narrowed, the spreading wettability was improved, and the microstructure was refined. Its microstructure mainly includes α-Al solid solution, Si particles, and θ(Al2Cu) and δ(Al3Ni2) intermetallic compounds. The results of the shear strength test indicate that the shear strength of the brazed joint with Al-6.5Si-20Cu-2.0Ni filler metal was 150.4 MPa, which was 28.32% higher than that of the brazed joint with Al-6.5Si-20Cu filler metal.