# US 8,783,544 B2 · Brazing alloys and methods of brazing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,544 B2 - Document ID: US8783544B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/836,654 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2013-09-26 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-20 - Applicants: Joseph W. Harris - Inventors: Joseph W. Harris - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783544B2 ## CPC - B23K 35/302: {Cu as the principal constituent} - B23K 1/00: Soldering, e.g. brazing, or unsoldering (B23K3/00 takes precedence) - B23K 1/203: {Fluxing, i.e. applying flux onto surfaces} - B23K 1/206: {Cleaning} - B23K 3/043: {Flame-heated appliances} - B23K 35/0227: {Rods or wires (B23K35/0244 takes precedence)} - B23K 35/0244: {Powders, particles or spheres; Preforms made therefrom} - B23K 35/3006: {Ag as the principal constituent} - B23K 35/3013: {Au as the principal constituent} - C22C 9/00: Alloys based on copper - C22C 9/02: with tin as the next major constituent - C22C 9/06: with nickel or cobalt as the next major constituent - C22C 30/02: containing copper - B23K 2103/04: Steel {or steel} alloys - B23K 2103/05: {Stainless steel} - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F) ## Abstract A brazing alloy is provided in the form of a wire, rod or preform, and is made of, in weight percent: 3-7.5% P, 0.1-1.9% Zn, 0-74.7% Ag, 0-80% Au, 0-10% Sn, 0-5% Ni, 0-3% each of Si, Mn, Li, and Ge, and the balance copper in an amount of at least 21.7%. In additional embodiments, Zn may be present in an amount of 0.6-1.9%. A method of torch brazing is also provided. The method includes forming the alloy into a wire or rod, placing the tip of the wire or rod in contact with a surface of a joint, heating the joint surface using a torch flame, and contacting the tip of the wire or rod to the heated joint surface to melt and flow the alloy onto the joint surface and into the joint under capillary action. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A brazing alloy in the form of a wire, rod or preform, comprising, in weight percent: 3-7.5% P, 0.1-1.9% Zn, 5-18% Ag, 0-80% Au, 0-10% Sn, 0-5% Ni, and the balance copper in an amount of at least 21.7%. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The brazing alloy of claim 1, wherein the Zn is present in an amount of 0.6-1.9%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The brazing alloy of claim 2, in the form of a wire or rod. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The brazing alloy of claim 3, consisting essentially of 3-7.5% P, 0.6-1.9% Zn, 5-18% Ag, 0-80% Au, 0-10% Sn, 0-5% Ni, 0-3% each of Si, Mn, Li, and Ge, and the balance copper in the amount of at least 21.7%. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The brazing alloy of claim 3, consisting essentially of 3-7.5% P, 0.6-1.9% Zn, 5-18% Ag, 0-10% Sn, 0-5% Ni, and the balance copper in an amount of at least 54.4%. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The brazing alloy of claim 3, wherein the balance of copper is at least 54.4%. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The brazing alloy of claim 6, wherein the Zn is present in an amount of 0.7-1%. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The brazing alloy of claim 6, wherein the Sn is present in an amount of 0.5-10% and the Zn is present in an amount of 0.6-1%. ### Claim 9 A method of torch brazing, comprising: forming a wire or rod from an alloy comprising, in weight percent: 3-7.5% P, 0.6-1.9% Zn, 5-18% Ag, 0-80% Au, 0-10% Sn, 0-5% Ni, and the balance copper in an amount of at least 21.7%; placing a tip of the wire or rod in contact with a surface of a joint formed by first and second base metals, wherein the first base metal is a ferrous alloy, nickel, or a nickel alloy, and wherein the second base metal is a ferrous alloy, nickel, a nickel alloy, gold, a gold alloy, silver, a silver alloy, copper, or a copper alloy; and heating the joint surface using a torch flame and contacting the tip of the wire or rod to the heated joint surface to melt and flow the alloy onto the joint surface and into the joint under capillary action. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising removing the tip from contact with the surface, and then repeating the placing and heating one or more times. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the alloy consists essentially of, in weight percent: 3-7.5% P, 0.6-1.9% Zn, 5-18% Ag, 0-80% Au, 0-10% Sn, 0-5% Ni, and the balance copper in an amount of at least 21.7%. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the alloy consists essentially of, in weight percent: 3-7.5% P, 0.6-1.9% Zn, 5-18% Ag, 0-10% Sn, 0-5% Ni, and the balance copper in an amount of at least 54.4%. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the Zn is present in an amount of 0.7-1%. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the Sn is present in an amount of 0.5-10% and the Zn is present in an amount of 0.6-1%. ### Claim 15 A method of brazing, comprising: forming a preform from an alloy comprising, in weight percent: 3-7.5% P, 0.1-1.9% Zn, 5-18% Ag, 0-80% Au, 0-10% Sn, 0-5% Ni, and the balance copper in an amount of at least 21.7%; placing the preform in contact with the surfaces of a joint formed by first and second base metals, wherein the first base metal is a ferrous alloy, nickel, or a nickel alloy, and wherein the second base metal is a ferrous alloy, nickel, a nickel alloy, gold, a gold alloy, silver, a silver alloy, copper, or a copper alloy; and heating the joint surface to melt and flow the alloy into the joint. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the alloy consists essentially of, in weight percent: 3-7.5% P, 0.6-1.9% Zn, 5-18% Ag, 0-80% Au, 0-10% Sn, 0-5% Ni, and the balance copper in an amount of at least 21.7%. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the alloy consists essentially of, in weight percent: 3-7.5% P, 0.6-1.9% Zn, 5-18% Ag, 0-10% Sn, 0-5% Ni, and the balance copper in an amount of at least 54.4%.