Characterization and brazing of sintered Ni-Al-Co powder mixtures containing intermetallics

Abstract Powder metallurgy is a progressive branch of engineering that enables engineers to fabricate difficult-to-make parts and materials that are used in many industrial areas. Joining this class of materials is a difficult task due to their intrinsic limitations, such as porosity and thermal properties. In this study, varying ratios of Co powder additions to Ni _x +Al _y powder mixture were made prior to sintering at 600°C. The sintered samples were brazed in both microwave and traditional tube furnaces by placing brazing filler alloy between the sintered specimens without added weight at 950°C for 15 min. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques were employed to characterize the brazed samples and the joints. Shear strength and hardness of brazed joints were also determined.