JJSTE v39n2 - The Development of a Method for Soldering Aluminum Alloys in the Industrial Arts/Home Economics Metal Working Class
Abstract:
The Development of a Method for Soldering Aluminum Alloys in the Industrial Arts/Home Economics Metal Working Class
Tadashi YAMANA, Hiroaki ODAKA, Kan TSUJISn-Pb solders have not been used to solder aluminum alloys, because of the tendency to form an oxide layer on the surface. In addition, commercially sold solder for aluminum is expensive, and therefore, its use in practicing metal working in industrial arts classes is limited. As alternatives we added Cd and Zn into Sn-Pb solder and then attempted to solder aluminum alloy. The addition of Cd did not produce sufficient joint strength. However, the addition of Zn was effective. We soldered aluminum alloy using three combinations of Sn-Pb solder with different percentages of Zn and compared the joint strength. By adding a few percent Zn to the eutectic Sn-Pb solder the adhesion properties were enhanced and it provided excellent soldering workability. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of applying pressure on the joint at the time that soldering occurs. With increased pressure, the thickness of the solder layer is reduced and the ratio of the thickness to the bonding area is increased. Hence the shear strength of the soldered joint increases. Based on the results obtained in this study, a cheap and easy method for soldering joints in Al alloys was developed for use in junior high school metal processing classes.
Key words : metal working, Sn-Pb solders, soldering of Al alloys, strength of soldered joints.