Choosing the Right Flux: The Secret to Strong and Reliable Brazing Joints

Flux selection for brazing:
Brazing is a commonly used process in the metalworking industry to join two or more metal components together. It involves heating the base metals and using a filler material, often called a brazing alloy, which has a lower melting point than the base metals. However, in order to achieve strong and reliable joints, it is essential to select the right flux for brazing.

1. What is flux?
Flux is a chemical compound that serves multiple purposes during the brazing process. Its primary function is to remove oxides from the surface of the base metals, ensuring clean and uncontaminated surfaces for effective bonding. Flux also helps to prevent further oxidation during heating by creating a protective barrier between the joint area and atmospheric oxygen.

2. Types of flux:
There are various types of flux available for brazing applications:

a) Boron-modified active-flux: This type of flux contains boron compounds that help reduce surface tension between the filler metal and base metal, allowing better fill-in around joints.

b) High-temperature active-flux: Designed specifically for high-temperature applications, this type of flux provides excellent protection against oxidation at elevated temperatures.

c) Non-corrosive or self-cleaning flux: These fl