Joining of Electrical Generator Components

A method for joining and forming an electrical connection between electrically conductive components to be used in an electrical generator comprising:

• providing a first electrically conductive component having a first surface;
• providing a second electrically conductive component having a second surface;
• disposing a reactive bonding material between and in contact with the first surface and the second surface, the reactive bonding material including a first material comprising a brazing material and a second material capable of melting the first material upon an initiation of an exothermic reaction in the second material;
• employing a first heating process to preheat the first surface and the second surface to a preheat temperature of at least about 100° C. and less than a melting temperature of the first material of the reactive bonding material;
• after the first surface and the second surface have been preheated to the preheat temperature, initiating an exothermic reaction in the second material to effect a second heating process different from the first heating process, the second heating process effecting a release of thermal energy from the second material to the first material to melt the first material;
• and
• wherein, upon a cooling and solidification of the first material, the first material creates an electrically conductive bond between the first surface and the second surface to join the first component to the second component.