Boron and phosphorous free nickel-based filler metals for brazing stainless steel in shielding gas furnaces

For high volume manufacturing of many stainless steel components, a continuous brazing process using a shielding gas furnace is usually preferred. Regarding the workability of the nickel-based brazes used here, furnace brazing in reducing or inert shielding gas is subject to considerable constraints: On the one hand, the maximum brazing temperatures are limited by the specific process and, on the other hand, limitations arise caused by the chemical reaction of the materials to be brazed with the process atmosphere. For this reason, the braze materials are an essential starting point for improving the process. In the present contribution, modified nickel-based brazes are introduced which meet the process conditions in continuous shielding gas furnaces and offer the prospect of improving the properties of stainless steel components joined in this way.