Patent ID: 7377419

Claim:
A method for brazing copper foam to stainless steel tubing comprising the steps of: brush plating layers for a brazing alloy onto said stainless steel tubing wherein said plated layers comprise gold and indium; positioning said copper foam in mechanically stable contact with at least one of said plated layers of said brazing alloy on said stainless steel tubing; and heating said copper foam, said plated layers of said brazing alloy wherein said plated layers comprise gold and indium, and said stainless steel tubing in a vacuum furnace at a rate not exceeding a targeted 20° C. per minute to a targeted 530° C.; heating said copper foam, said plated layers of said brazing alloy wherein said plated layers comprise gold and indium, and said stainless steel tubing in a vacuum furnace from said targeted 530° C. to 550° C. at 3° C. per minute; holding said copper foam, said plated layers of said brazing alloy wherein said plated layers comprise gold and indium, and said stainless steel tubing at said targeted 550° C. for 15 minutes; and cooling said copper foam, a resultant brazing alloy, and said stainless steel tubing in a vacuum furnace from said targeted 550° C. down to 100° C. at a targeted rate not exceeding 20° C. per minute.