Patent ID: 8870053

Claim:
A method of forming a brazed joint, comprising: providing a first metal part consisting of a modified alloy of copper, silver or gold, or any combination thereof, as the primary base metal(s), 0.5-12 wt. % phosphorus as a modifier, and optionally one or more of nickel, zinc, cadmium, tin, antimony, indium, or selenium as minor additions, the modified alloy having a solidus temperature above 450° C., a low melting portion, and a high melting portion; placing a second metal part comprising copper, silver or gold, or any combination thereof, as the primary base metal(s) in direct contact with a surface portion of the first metal part to form a contact area therebetween; heating the first metal part at a brazing temperature above the solidus temperature sufficient to cause the phosphorus therein to wet a surface of the second metal part and to sufficiently melt the low melting portion in the surface portion of the first metal part to enable flow while maintaining the high melting portion as a solid; and maintaining the brazing temperature for a time sufficient to allow a quantity of the low melting portion to flow from the surface portion into the contact area by capillary attraction to form the brazed joint between the first and second metal parts.