Brazing characteristics, microstructure, and wettability of laser powder bed fusion additive manufactured GRCop-84 compared to CuCrZr and OFC, and brazing to titanium-zirconium-molybdenum alloy limiters
Name
22ja114_full.pdf
Size
7.05 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
9f40d4d156116f0549e7a04a6b666ab2
Author(s)
Seltzman, Andrew H.
Wukitch, S.J.
Date Issued
July 2022
Journal
Fusion Engineering and Design
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) of Glenn Research Copper 84 (GRCop-84), a Cr2Nb (8 at. % Cr, 4 at. % Nb) precipitation hardened alloy, produces a fully dense, high conductivity alloy with a yield strength of 500 MPa and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 740 MPa with 20% elongation; superior to other competing copper alloys. Braze wetting characteristics of GRCop-84 with Ag-Cu-X, and Au-Cu brazes were similar to CuCrZr, but less than oxygen free copper. No difference in wetting was observed between infill and surface contour areas in L-PBF GRCop-84. Wet sanding to 240 grit (Ra=0.24 µm) was considered the optimal surface condition. Silver diffusing through GRCop-84 depleted Cr2Nb precipitates from the copper grain and deposited agglomerations of coarsened precipitates within silver-rich regions of intergranular diffusion once a density threshold was reached. Microstructure modification was minimized with 50Au-50Cu braze implying that silver caused precipitate coarsening and agglomeration, and not high temperature exposure. Coarsened precipitates were observed on the surface within braze pools implying a contribution to braze wetting. Palcusil-25, Ticusil, CuSil-ABA, and 50Au-50Cu brazes were suitable for brazing to unplated Titanium-Zirconium-Molybdenum (TZM), while sulfamate nickel plating to allows wetting with CuSil or other non-active brazes. Vacuum brazing techniques were developed to join a 1 mm thick layer of TZM to the front of additive manufactured GRCop-84 waveguides considering the brazing characteristics of both GRCop-84, TZM, and internal stress from the difference in coefficient in thermal expansion.
Description
Submitted for publication in Fusion Engineering and Design
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2022.113185
