Characterization on fracture surfaces of 304 stainless steels joined by brazing using silicon nanoparticles

Silicon nanoparticles of 100 nm obtained by high-energy ball milling were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). Results show dark areas due to a staking of defects. On the other hand, brighter areas exhibit a combination of small crystalline and amorphous zones. To fulfill and cover the micro-cracking and micro-pores generated during the welding process of 304 stainless steels joined by brazing, these nanoparticles were deposited directly in the fracture. The amorphous silicon drove the Transient Liquid Phase (TLP) at 1000°C for 20 min. This amorphous silicon decreases the energies of reaction between the substrate and melting filler. TLP increases the wettability and capillary forces between micro-cracking and micro-pores; due to that, the eutectic phase contained by the melting filler forms a liquid. Moreover, the weld beads were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to analyze the effect of silicon nanoparticles on the weld beads. These results showed that the interaction of the Si nanoparticles with metallic filler in the melting zone decreases the size and change the morphology of the present phases as well as the zone of isothermic growth.