Stabilization of the interface temperature in laser beam brazing of aluminum alloys with aluminum-based brazing alloys

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Frank Vollertsen
• Subject Area: Production Automation and Assembly Technology
• Term: from 2017 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 376511346

Nowadays, laser brazing is a well-established process in the automotive industry for zinc coated steel. The technology enables high seam qualities for joints being visible for the customer. In contrast to steel, laser brazing of aluminum with aluminum based filler material is not established yet. One of the main challenges in this case is the process window due to the small difference between the solidus temperature of the base material and the liquidus temperature of the filler material.The wetting process and the time-temperature cycle show periodic behaviors in laser brazing of aluminum alloys, which are disadvantageous with respect to partial melting of the base material or wetting defects. In order to achieve reliable laser brazing of aluminum alloys with aluminum based filler material the temperature at the interface between braze and base material has to be precisely adjusted. The project is based on the hypothesis that the periodic behavior of the wetting process and, as result, the interface temperature can be stabilized by the periodic modulation of process parameters.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants