What is Brazing?

There are many ways to achieve strong, joined metal, with the various forms of welding being the most commonly known. There is another technique that is less widely known, yet offers unique benefits for its many applications. This technique is called brazing.

HOW BRAZING WORKS

Brazing is done by melting a filler metal between 2 pieces of base metal in a tight joint, with the filler metal adhering through capillary action to the base metals. This filler metal is melted at a temperature above 840°F (450°C), with the base metals having a much higher melting point. This allows the base metal to remain largely undisturbed, retaining its properties.

In a brazing operation, the 2 pieces of base metal are heated, with the filler metal then being applied in between. The base metal melts, then creates a metallurgical bond, being drawn through the joint by capillary action. 

ADVANTAGES OF BRAZING

There are many reasons one might choose to use brazing over welding. Some of these include:

Strength: Brazed joints are typically strong and can withstand high stress and pressure, making them suitable for critical applications. Often, the joint will be as strong or even stronger than the base metal.

Versatility: Brazing can join dissimilar metals and other materials, allowing for a wide range of applications and material combinations. Since it is the filler metal that creates the bond, the base materials can be completely different from each other, such as joining steel to copper.

Precision: The process allows for precise control over the joint, resulting in clean, smooth, and aesthetically pleasing finishes. The brazed joint will not have the lumpy or bumpy look of an unclean weld. 

Efficiency: Brazing can be performed quickly and economically, especially when joining complex assemblies or multiple parts simultaneously. Since the temperature needed to braze is significantly lower than what is needed to weld, brazing is far more energy efficient.

BRAZING VS WELDING

Though these two techniques are similar in many ways, they remain distinct and different. Here are some key ways in which brazing differs from welding.

Temperature: Welding involves melting the base metals along with the filler metal, which typically requires higher temperatures than brazing, often over 10,000​​° F.  Brazing, on the other hand, melts only the filler metal, not the base metals, keeping the temperatures much lower.

Bond Strength: Welding usually creates a stronger bond than brazing because it involves melting and fusing the base metals. However, brazing can still produce sufficiently strong joints for many applications.

Materials: Brazing is more versatile in joining dissimilar metals and materials, whereas welding is generally limited to similar metals.

Appearance: Brazed joints often have a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing appearance, as the process does not involve the melting and subsequent cooling of the base metals, which can cause warping and other imperfections.

Application: Welding is preferred for heavy-duty applications that require high-strength joints, such as in structural steelwork and heavy machinery. Brazing is often chosen for delicate or complex assemblies, where precision and minimal thermal distortion are crucial. Common applications for brazing include electronics, automotive, HVAC, and aerospace, among many others. 

Brazing and welding are both excellent ways to create strong, reliable bonds between metals, and both have an art to them. Whatever your custom fabrication needs are, you can rely on M&M Welding Company in Cleveland, OH to help you when and where you need it, with the brazing or welding services that the situation demands. Our welders are AWS certified and have the skills & experience to tackle any job.

Contact us today with any questions you may have, or to request a quote for an upcoming welding job!