Patent ID: 6168071
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: B23K,C22C

Abstract:
A method for joining two elements using a silver based alloy having a germanium content, comprising: providing two elements to be joined together, at least one of the elements comprising a silver/copper/germanium alloy having a silver content of at least 77% by weight, a germanium content of between 0.4 and 7% by weight, the remainder principally being copper apart from any impurities, which alloy contains elemental boron as a grain refiner at a concentration of greater than 0 parts per million and less than 20 parts per million; placing the two elements adjacent one another such that a portion of a free surface of the silver/copper/germanium alloy contacts a portion of a free surface of the other element without interposing a filler material between the two free surfaces; and heating the two free surfaces where the two elements are adjacent one another to a temperature below that of the solidus temperature of any one of the constituent materials of the elements, thereby joining the two elements by a diffusion process.