When ordering parts or brazed components from another company, it is important to understand the process that is being used. Some of the top companies have a systematic and specialized approach to brazing that is known as atmosphere brazing.
Atmosphere brazing, which may also be known as controlled atmosphere brazing, is used specifically to create a bright, scale-free and complete process resulting in superior joints and a very professional and clean looking final product. This not only has an aesthetic component, but it also means that the brazed joints are strong and complete without any defects or contaminants that may weaken the joint over time.
Bright, shiny and clean looking end products are free from oxidization. This is a natural process the can occur when metals are heated and brazed at temperature while exposed to oxygen in the air. By controlling the atmosphere where the brazing occurs the oxygen can be eliminated, also preventing any oxidization from occurring.
How it Works
During atmosphere brazing in the furnaces are flooded with a specific type of gas, most often with nitrogen. The nitrogen flows along the furnace or through the furnace, preventing oxygen from entering the areas of the furnace where the brazing occurs.
There are actually several different steps involved in this type of a process. Each step in the process is essential in creating the strongest, lightest and most cost effective way to join two different metals. It is also used to join similar metals when welding or other processes are not effective or the right match for the parts because of the complexity of the shape or the location of the joint.
It will be important to degrease and clean any parts before the process, and then also ensure that there is a selection of the correct flux based on the metals to be joined during the atmosphere brazing processing.
Then, the parts go into the system where the flux is applied automatically and then they are moved into the furnace which is heated to the specific temperature for the brazing. At this time, the nitrogen or other atmosphere is flooded into the chamber, and the brazing actually occurs, creating the joint.
After this process completes, the cooling occurs to allow the solidification of the filler. The result of this is a strong, dependable joint without any oxidation and with the surface look needed for any parts or components.
