Effect of Gold Nano Dots in Microwave Brazing: A Novel Approach to Join Ti6Al4V to MACOR®

Abstract

Nano structured surface generation is useful in inducing specific functionalities to the surface. This work attempts on generation of such surface through thermal dewetting. Enhanced adhesion behavior of such surface is utilized for joining MACOR® ceramic to Ti6Al4V alloy. Ti6Al4V alloy is brazed with MACOR® by microwave energy using TiCuSil as a braze alloy. MACOR® ceramic is subjected to pre-treatment called gold dewetting. For comparison plain ceramic is also used for joining. The reaction zone formed on joining Ti6Al4V to gold dewetted MACOR® is more uniform than the untreated MACOR® ceramic interface. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of the reaction zone suggests the formation of Ti2Cu and Ti3Au intermetallic compounds. The shear strength of the pre-treated samples is observed to be higher than that of plain joints.