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STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF BRAZING ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF

ALUMINUM ALLOYS FOR AUTOMOTIVE HEAT EXCHANGERS

A Thesis

Submitted to the Faculty

of

Purdue University

by

Praveen Kumaar Velu

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Degree

of

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

May 2017

Purdue University

Indianapolis, Indiana
 ii

THE PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL

STATEMENT OF THESIS APPROVAL

Dr. Hazim El-Mounayri, Chair

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Andres Tovar
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Jing Zhang
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Approved by:
Dr. Sohel Anwar
Head of the Departmental Graduate Program
 iii

To my Parents.
 iv

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my parents for their unconditional love and unrelenting
support for my endeavors.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my advisor, Dr.Hazim El-Mounayri
for his guidance and professional support. I would also like to thank my supervisor
at Valeo, James Hornsby for his continuous support, patience and motivation.
Most importantly I would like to thank Carl Hildinger, Anne-Gaelle Noumet-
Villemiane, Nicolas Dye-Pellisson and Patrick Cameron for their most valuable train-
ing, guidance and knowledge shared to help me carry out my research successfully.
 v

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
LIST OF FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Heat Exchangers in Automotive Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2.1 Cooling Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2.2 Heat Exchange Mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3 Brazing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.3.1 Definition and Principle of Brazing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3.2 Strong Brazing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.4 Filler and Braze Flux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.5 NOCOLOK Brazing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.6 Operating Demands on Cooling Radiators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.6.1 Corrosion Phenomena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.6.2 Thermo-Mechanical Stresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2 LITERATURE REVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2.1 Microstructure of Pre-Brazed Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2.2 Microstructure of the Core . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
2.3 Microstructure of Aluminum Alloys After Brazing . . . . . . . . . . 21
2.4 Microstructure Resulting from the Resolidification of the Molten Metal 22
2.4.1 Formation and Structure of the Brazing Joint . . . . . . . . 22
2.4.2 Microstructure of the AA4045 alloy outside of the braze joints 24
2.5 Interaction between the molten metal and the core . . . . . . . . . 26
 vi

Page

2.6 Fatigue Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

2.7 Propagation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
2.8 Mechanical Properties of the Brazing Joint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
2.9 Fatigue and Damage Mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3 TEST MATERIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL METHODS . . . . . . . . 42
3.1 Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
3.2 Structure and Composition of the Subjects Studied . . . . . . . . . 42
3.3 Manufacturing Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
3.4 Brazing and Preparation of Test Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
3.5 Mechanical Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
5 CONCLUSION AND FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . 70
REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
 vii

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page
3.1 Alloy designations and chemical composition of Aluminum Alloys. (%
material by weight, rest of material is Aluminum). . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
3.2 Standard Specifications of Test Specimen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
4.1 Design of Experiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
4.2 Design of Experiments (Continued) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
4.3 Design of Experiments (Continued) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
4.4 Design of Experiments (Continued). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
4.5 Test Material Characterization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
4.6 Material A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
4.7 Material B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
4.8 Material C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
4.9 Material D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
4.10 Material E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
4.11 Material F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
4.12 Material G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
4.13 Material H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
4.14 Material I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
4.15 Material J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
 viii

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page
1.1 Exploded diagrammatic view of the various heat exchangers that can be
found on a motor vehicle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2 Schematic view of an engine cooling system (without charge air cooler)
associated with the air conditioning loop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.3 Structure of a cooling radiator - a) Radiator, b) Enlarged schematic rep-
resentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.4 Cooling principle diagram of a heat exchanger [10]. . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.5 Showing the temperature range for brazing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.6 Tube to header joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.7 Fin to tube joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1.8 Optical micrographs showing the assembly between a tube and fin a) before
brazing and b) after brazing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.9 Influence of alloying elements on the corrosion potential of aluminum alloys
[40]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1.10 Showing the expansion of a cooling radiator during a thermal shock. The
location of stresses occurs at the edges of the end tubes . . . . . . . . . 17
1.11 Fatigue crack located at the bottom of the tube, near the braze joint with
the manifold in a charge air cooler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.1 Optical micrography after Keller reagent attack on 4045 and 3916 before
brazing showing the different phases present [45] . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2.2 Optical micrographs after anodic oxidation and Keller reagent on a core
alloy 3916 coated on both sides with an AA4045 alloy, a) and c) before
brazing, b) and d) after brazing [45] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
2.3 Sheet after brazing consisting of modified alloy 3003 plated on both sides
with an AA4343 alloy. a) Optical micrographs after reacting with Keller
reagent. The BBP appears in brown and the residual plating in white. b)
Micrography obtained in the BBP zone showing dispersoids [61]. . . . . 22
 ix

Figure Page
2.4 Optical micrography after a Keller reagent attack showing a joint of braz-
ing (alloy 4045) between a tube and a manifold Philipps et al. . . . . . 23
2.5 Optical micrographs of the residual plating layer. A) Plating surface resid-
ual structure showing the heterogeneous structure of resolidified plating
Warmuzek et al. B) Sectional view after Keller attack, the residual plating
appears in white, the valleys correspond to the grains . . . . . . . . . . 25
2.6 Optical micrographs showing a) material before brazing - b) material After
brazing, in the case of a weak interaction between the plating and the core
- c) the material after brazing, in the case of a very strong interaction
between the plating and the core Nylen et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
2.7 Diagram showing the different processes taking place during the migration
of a Liquid film Nayeb-Hashemi et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2.8 a) Priming of microcracks and formation of intrusions and extrusions to
the free surface (sectional view); b) formation of a main crack from micro-
cracks; c) aspects of intrusions and extrusions and cracks from stage I to
surface of a copper fatigue specimen [82]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
2.9 Effect of microstructure on Wöhler fatigue curves for Brazing having a
fine, medium and large particle size [87]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
2.10 Fatigue tests performed on an AA3005 alloy before and after brazing [92] 37
2.11 Fatigue curves in total deformation imposed as a function of the number of
cycles at a frequency of 0.5 Hz, with a triangular signal and a strain ratio
greater than 0 showing a) the influence of 7% AA4104 plating on a 2.5mm
thick AA3005 alloy and b) the influence of temperature for a two-sided
AA3005 alloy with an alloy AA4343 at 7% (total thickness 3.2mm) [93]. 38
2.12 Fatigue curves at different temperatures with constant stress amplitude
for AA3003 alloy plated on both sides with AA4343 (10%) after brazing
(thickness 0.4mm, R = 0.1, f = 30Hz, and sinusoidal signal) by Kahl et
al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
2.13 a) Diagram of a rupture facies representing the three phases of the prop-
agation Identified. b) Graph from the correlation data of digital images
plotting the deformation in accordance with the standardized lifetime of
4045/3916/4045 alloys after Brazing, tested at ambient temperature with
constant stress amplitude at a frequency of 10Hz (sinusoidal signal). The
propagation of the crack occurs in the last moments of the lifetime. Buteri
et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
3.1 Schematic View of the Materials Studied A) Standard material B) Added
corrosion resistance material. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
 x

Figure Page

3.2 Schematic View of the Manufacturing of the Material Studied. . . . . . 45

3.3 Sample Preparation Test Apparatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
3.4 Graph explaining the time of the sample run through the furnace for braz-
ing with respect to temperature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
3.5 Sample test apparatus with data logger loaded at the start of the furnace. 47
3.6 Representation of standard dimensions for test specimen. . . . . . . . . 48
3.7 Standard tool used to prepare the test specimen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
3.8 Schematic representation of the steps required to prepare the test specimens 49
3.9 Typical Stress vs. Strain curve of Aluminum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
3.10 Schematic representation of test equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
3.11 Laser Extensometer used for testing specimens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
3.12 Retro-reflective film (2 inches wide) installed on to every specimen. . . 53
4.1 Stress vs Strain curve of test sample material A before brazing. (Young’s
modulus = 65 GPa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
4.2 Stress vs Strain curve of test sample material A after brazing. (Young’s
modulus = 49 GPa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
4.3 Stress vs Strain curve of test sample material A after re-brazing. (Young’s
modulus = 32 GPa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
4.4 Graphical representation of Ultimate Tensile Strength comparison between
the test materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
4.5 Graphical representation of Yield Strength comparison between the test
materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
4.6 Graphical representation of Elongation at Break comparison between the
test materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
4.7 Effect of manganese on the fatigue strength of a 7XXX alloy [104] . . . 69
 xi

ABSTRACT

Velu, Praveen Kumaar MSME, Purdue University, May 2017. Study of the Effect
of Brazing on Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Alloys for Automotive Heat Ex-
changers. Major Professor: Dr. Hazim El-Mounayri.

Automotive heat exchangers enable the engine to operate at acceptable temper-

atures. The quality of these heat exchangers plays a key role in vehicle performance
because they ensure the integrity of the engine, and can cause significant mechanical
complications in case of malfunction.
From manufacturing stand point view, the general behavior of the structure in
controlling the various modes of damage to heat exchangers becomes an indisputable
challenge (influence of the process assembly, design, etc.). The evolution of materials
used, in particular through the different alloy types, brazing operational parameters
and part designs could be used to tackle these challenges. This imposes the constant
need to control the conditions of use and to understand the braze alloy mechanisms
to provide the best possible solutions for manufacturing automotive heat exchangers.
An experimental study is conducted by simulating the brazing of alloys and the
mechanical properties after brazing as well as re-brazing. Aluminum alloys with
different compositions and metallurgical conditions that are used in the automotive
heat exchanger industry are used in this study to understand the effect of brazing
on the mechanical properties. The experiments conducted and results obtained show
the degradation in the mechanical properties after brazing. But interestingly the
mechanical properties of the re-brazed alloys studied are very similar to the first
brazing cycle. This generates further interest in exploring more about the mechanical
properties of re-brazed alloy and their feasibility in industrial process.
 1

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

From the introduction of the history of cars to the mid-1970’s, radiators produced
using copper and brass were in all of the automotive industry. The second genera-
tion of radiators were shifting towards water cooled engine from air cooled engines.
Later critical calls for approaches to decrease fuel utilization, automotive manufac-
turers started making autos and trucks with lighter materials. For radiators made
by aluminum, with thickness lesser than copper/brass can deal with heat better in
spite of its numerous inadequacies. In its crude state (in spite of the fact that not
as radiator strip), aluminum is additionally less costly. These qualities alongside a
critical, though hidden forecasts of product examiners was that copper/brass would
be hard to come by in the 1980s - made an influx of energy for something new. In the
recent years, the Automotive heat exchangers for Engine cooling systems and also for
the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems are made by Aluminum. Due to
some interesting properties like high thermal conductivity, low density, relatively good
corrosion resistance possessed by Aluminum alloys helps them achieve high part prod-
uct performance, production efficiencies and are most predominantly used to make
heat exchangers in the automotive industry [1]. Cooling radiators being the main
focus of study in this research can be manufactured possibly in two different ways, by
mechanical assembly or by brazing. Towards the end of 20th century, the mechanical
assembly of automotive radiators was replaced by Aluminum brazing. This was a
result of making progress toward a cost effective, safe and cleaner technology.
Driven by the tightening of anti-pollution standards and by economic constraints,
the current trend of the automobile market is downsizing and the lightening of ve-
hicles [2]. For the heat exchangers, this mass reduction is tried achieving through
 2

the reduction of the thickness of the components [3]. This reduction in thickness,
combined with the increase in mechanical stresses can lead to fatigue failure of the
components and particularly of the tubes [4]. Even if corrosion phenomena are still a
key factor to guarantee a long service life of materials, the limiting factor for the heat
exchanger durability is now moving towards fatigue resistance of exchangers [5–7].
For about thirty years, Aluminum has become a constituent metal for exchangers
and has in fact replaced metals such as cast iron and copper which were used for
their excellent thermal properties [8,9]. The development of Aluminum is largely due
to its lower density and specific mechanical properties (relative to the density) and
therefore to the weight gain of the structures which it induces the heat exchangers
contribute to meet the many environmental standards, in particular those requiring
car manufacturers to reduce their CO2 emissions. Easy implementation form of the
Aluminum alloys, good resistance to corrosion and their fairly stable price (because
of their relative abundance availability) enables them a wide use in industries.
Based on assembly method used the manufacture of heat exchangers can be of
two types, mechanical assembly of components and in the other where the assembly
is done by brazing. This study focuses exclusively on the second type of exchangers.

1.2 Heat Exchangers in Automotive Industry

In a vehicle, due to combustion of the fuel or various frictions between parts,

the rise in temperature of the engine block is inevitable. The latter can quickly
become a source of serious damage if it is not properly regulated. Conversely, too low
temperature affects engine performance and causes premature wear. Such use also
leads to a drastic fall in the duration life of parts. The need for good temperature
regulation is therefore essential and requires the use of various heat exchangers, the
number of which varies from 2 to 5 depending on the vehicle.
However irrespective of what type of exchanger is considered, the general structure
remains the same. Only the design, component geometry and composition of the
 3

Fig. 1.1. Exploded diagrammatic view of the various heat exchangers

that can be found on a motor vehicle.

constituent Aluminum alloys evolve according to the desired thermal capacities, the
nature of the heat exchanges and the location of the exchanger in the engine part.
Thus there are different types depending on the utility and the desired thermal control
capacities. For the vast majority of vehicles, the various exchangers present in the
engines are the following:

• Cooling Radiator

• Heating Radiator

• Charge Air Cooler

• Condenser

• Evaporator
 4

The exchangers are grouped according to the cooling loop to which they belong are
concerned. The engine circuit comprises a cooling radiator responsible for maintain-
ing the temperature at an optimum level and a heating radiator which uses the heat
produced by the engine to warm up the passenger compartment. To these two ex-
changers, an oil cooler is added in order to avoid a rise in temperature of the oil which
would cause its degradation.
In the case of supercharged cars, the cooling of the intake gases is ensured by the
charge air cooler. The supercharging device consists of a turbocharger (or mechanical
compressor) directly driven by the engine that compresses the intake air. As a result
of this compression, the intake air temperature is increased. However, a hot air is
less dense which reduces the efficiency of the engine. The purpose of the charge air
cooler is therefore to reduce the temperature of the compressed air.
EGR devices are used to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides. The principle is to
re-admit a portion of the exhaust gas to slow down the rate of combustion (one of
the reasons being, addition of exhaust gas decreases the proportion of oxygen in the
mixture and reduces the temperature during combustion). Before being re-admitted
the exhaust gases must be cooled and it is accomplished by an EGR cooler. Depending
on its position in the engine, it may operate at low or high pressure (EGR LP or HP).
The air conditioning system consists of two heat exchangers (condenser and evap-
orator). The condenser placed in front of the vehicle is responsible for evacuating
the heat from the passenger compartment to the outside. The evaporator placed
under the dashboard, diffuses a fresh and dry air in the cockpit. This loop uses the
changes in the states of a heat transfer fluid and a compressor in order to perform
heat exchanges.
 5

1.2.1 Cooling Circuit

In the first stage of operation, the cooling circuit transfers the excess heat from
the engine to the heat transfer fluid. Later the heat transfer fluid is cooled by air /
liquid exchanges with the environment outside. This principle of operation remains
the same regardless of the type of exchanger used.
The heat transfer fluid, also called the cooling liquid is maintained under pressure
in a closed circuit. The water pump, driven by the engine timing belt, accelerates
the circulation of this liquid with a focus to optimize the heat exchanges within the
various components of the cooling circuit.
The thermostatic valve which is located close to the Engine, allows a regulation of
the flow of liquid into the system. The cooling radiator is in charge of the dissipation
of 75% of the energy balance. As shown in Fig. 1.2., the cooling radiator is associated
with a motor-fan unit able to circulate air faster by convection, in order to promote
heat exchanges.

Fig. 1.2. Schematic view of an engine cooling system (without charge

air cooler) associated with the air conditioning loop.
 6

An exploded general view of a cooling radiator assembled by brazing technique is

shown below (Fig. 3.1). This figure highlights the elements in the system and also
the heat exchanges between the heat transfer fluid and the external medium. The
brazing ensures the good performance of the assembly. The tank being only a polymer
element for certain heat exchangers makes it possible to ensure the leak tightness of
the device with the crimping of the header to it.

Fig. 1.3. Structure of a cooling radiator - a) Radiator, b) Enlarged

schematic representation

1.2.2 Heat Exchange Mechanisms

Thermal exchanges take place in the vast majority within the radiator. These
exchanges can be divided into three distinct stages (Fig. 1.4.):
1. The heat transfer fluid transmits excess heat from the engine by convection to
the inner wall of the tube.
2. The heat transmitted to the tube is propagated by conduction through the
thickness of the tubes up to the dividers. This spread is facilitated by the strong
contact between components induced by the brazing process.
3. The external wall of the tube and the interlayer provide the heat transfer to
ambient air by convection.
 7

Fig. 1.4. Cooling principle diagram of a heat exchanger [10].

1.3 Brazing

In the 1960s the controlled atmosphere and vacuum brazing were introduced.
Before that the mass manufacturing of automotive heat exchangers followed the dip
flux brazing. In this process the heat exchanger is dunk inside the flux for the brazing
to take place effectively. The main problem of this type of brazing was with the
Aluminum surfaces that had residual flux after brazing. Automotive heat exchangers
have a large number of components and complex structures. Due to this reason
the use of a conventional point welding method which is most commonly used in
automotive industry is not preferred widely. Depending on the size of the engines
and the stresses induced, the choice may vary between using either a mechanical
or a brazed assembly. In the case of cooling radiators, the brazing process is chose
because of their dimension and the pressure constraints they must hold in for good
performance.
 8

1.3.1 Definition and Principle of Brazing

The brazing consists of the assembly of two metal parts with the aid of a filler
metal having a lower melting temperature than the parts to be assembled. During
this operation, the filler metal passes into the liquid state and wetts the surfaces to
be assembled by capillary action. The base metal does not participate by fusion in
the construction of the joint [11], unlike welding there is no fusion of the assembled
edges.
The diffusion of the various elements guarantees the metallurgical continuity be-
tween the filler metal and the base metal.
Two major brazing techniques are:
Soft Brazing - The melting temperature of the filler metal is less than 450◦ C.
This process uses heavy metals such as tin, lead and zinc.
Strong Brazing - The melting temperature of the filler metal is higher than
450◦ C. This process uses an aluminum alloy as filler metal. Due to the environmental
problems caused by the large-scale use of materials for soft brazing, weak mechanical
properties (especially in temperature) and constraints which affect thermal cycling,
the strong brazing process is preferred in this application.

1.3.2 Strong Brazing

The high temperatures involved in a strong brazing process impose the use Alu-
minum alloys with no structural hardening effect under any major modification of
the desired properties for the final product. Alloys of series 1XXX, 3XXX and 5XXX
appear as excellent candidates. It is similarly to take serious precautions with Al-Mg
type alloys of the 5XXX series due to a high reactivity between Magnesium and the
use of a brazing flux.
 9

Fig. 1.5. Showing the temperature range for brazing

Fig. 1.6. Tube to header joints

1.4 Filler and Braze Flux

The different filler metals that can be used are mainly derived from series 4XXX
(Al-Si). The Silicon content of these alloys defines the temperatures to be reached
 10

Fig. 1.7. Fin to tube joints

during brazing process. It also highlights the need to use a flux (compound added to
the surface of the sheets prior to the brazing step) during the brazing process.
Fluxless brazing is carried out in vacuum furnaces. The flux itself proves to be
expensive and adds significant costs to cleaning and maintaining the facilities. The
primary role of flux is to remove oxide layer naturally present on the surface of the
Aluminum alloys. It also protects the bare metal from re-oxidizing in the furnace.
It is expected to lower the filler metals surface tension and promote wetting of the
base metal. To allow this action, the flux must have a melting point lower than the
brazing temperature. According to Sichen et al., the partial dissolution of Aluminum
oxide follows equation (1.1) [12]:

Al2 O3 −→ AlO2− + AlO+ (1.1)

The fluxes currently used are essentially based on chlorides, alkaline fluorides and
alkaline-earth metals. The chlorides greatly favors the corrosion by pitting Aluminum,
system containing this element must be thoroughly cleaned. This cleaning is added to
the cost of installations and makes the process flow itself quite expensive. To overcome
these shortcomings vacuum brazing process was developed. This type of brazing does
not require flux [13]. This process has the great advantage of being compatible with
 11

the brazing of materials containing a large Magnesium concentration (greater than

1 %). The presence of Magnesium is essential because by diffusing in to the surface
it evaporates and breaks the layer of Alumina which covers the parts to be brazed
enabling the plating to wet the surface. Moreover, the Magnesium vapor generated
also has the advantage of purge the atmosphere of the furnace from residual traces of
oxygen and water vapor [14].
Various brazing methods can be used. In this study, the method of brazing under
controlled atmosphere with a non-corrosive stream of the Nocolok type developed by
Alcan is used.

1.5 NOCOLOK Brazing

Developed at the end of the 1970s by Alcan [15], Nocolok brazing has gradually
superseded vacuum brazing [16]. The Nocolok brazing method has the advantage
to be able to be used continuously unlike vacuum brazing and importantly at a
much lower cost [17, 18]. It consists of brazing in a low-nitrogen atmosphere (-40◦ C
±10◦ C) at atmospheric pressure, using a non-corrosive flux KAlF type composed of
an optimized mixture of KAlF4 (approximately 75%) and K2 AlF5 [19]. This mixture
is deposited on the surface of the exchangers most often in an aqueous solution (5 to
10% of flux in water) by immersion or sprinkling. The flow remains inactive below
560◦ C and becomes active at the brazing temperature. The work of Lauzon et al. and
Wallis et al. describes the various phase transformations of the compound K2 AlF5
during the rise in temperature to make it active [20]. It is this compound which
converting to K3 AlF6 will react with KAlF4 and liquefy the mixture at a temperature
close to 570◦ C thus making it possible to remove the oxide layer at the surface before
the metal contribution does not establish. At the end of the brazing after the re-
solidification of the filler metal, the flux also re-solidifies. The phases involved are
assumed to be KAlF4 and K3 AlF6 [21]. The compound KAlF4 , like the compound
K3 AlF6 , will preferably be present in the form of colorless platelets [22, 23]. Future
 12

works on of these residues are devoted to interactions with coolant and corrosion
phenomena [24, 25]. The impact of flux residues on mechanical strength has never
been studied.
Nocolok brazing offers many advantages: non-corrosive flow, no rinsing, low flux
consumption and continuous brazing. One of its main limitations is the the inability
to braze materials containing more than 0.3% Mg [26,27]. According to Yamaguchi et
al. this restriction would be due to the reaction of magnesium with KAlF4 according
to reaction (1.2) [28].

KAlF4 + M g −→ KAlF4 + KM gF3 + K3 AlF6 −→ KM gF3 + K3 AlF6 (1.2)

This reaction can also prove to be harmful during the brazing process itself and ex-
plains the limit of magnesium content set at 1% for Aluminum alloys used. According
to Gray et al. [29], the flux residues present on the surface of exchangers after brazing
are partially constituted by a K-Mg-F type phase and also even on Aluminum alloys
with low magnesium content. Such a reduction reaction of the flow efficiency during
brazing leads to a formation of the compound KM gF3 whose melting temperature
is 1070◦ C, thus preventing a good flow of the filler material. In order to avoid this
reaction, special flux containing Cesium has been developed. These allow the brazing
of material with a concentration of Magnesium up to 0.5% [30]. Another strategy is
to prevent the magnesium to diffuse up to the surface by manufacturing alloy sheets
not just three layers instead having a 4 or 5 interlayer. The additional layers then
play the role of barrier to the diffusion of Magnesium [31, 32].
From an industrial point of view, brazing is carried out in several stages:
1. Assembly of the components - The tubes, manifolds and fins are arranged in
a frame. This step is usually automated because it requires great precision .This frame
allows the contact of the front components for brazing, a spring system prevents the
formation of clearances when the metal of background. This step is essential because
it forms the base contact for braze joints.
2. Degreasing - This step consists of removing the residue of used oil from tubes
or fins, as well as any other dust or dirt present on the surface of the components.
 13

Their elimination is necessary for not only brazing, but also to minimize post-brazing
corrosion induced by carbon residues. Two degreasing solutions are possible. De-
greasing is done mainly by a heat treatment at a temperature around 300◦ C.
3. Application of the flux - This is done mainly by immersion or sprinkling
of an aqueous solution containing 5 to 10% flux. In some cases, components may be
pre-fluxed before assembly.
4. Drying - This step, carried out at approximately 350◦ C, makes it possible to
evaporate the water and to carry out the first transformations of the flux so that it
becomes reactive and can remove the oxide layer during brazing.
5. Brazing - Performed around 600◦ C for 5 to 10 minutes, it is during this stage
that the filler metal will melt and will be able to form the various braze joints.
6. Cooling - In order to solidify the brazing joints, the exchanger passes through
a part of the furnace for a cooling of the order of 60◦ C - 70◦ C / min.
Fig. 1.8. illustrates the formation of a brazing joint between a tube and fin. In
the Fig. 1.8.a, before brazing the laminated structure of the tube is clearly visible
and the sacrificial metal layer appears in white and the base metal in brown. The
interlayer is brought into contact with the tube in order to allow the formation of
the brazing joint. Fig. 1.8.b, shows this same structure after brazing: the joint has
formed continuously assembling the tube and the fin together.

1.6 Operating Demands on Cooling Radiators

Heat exchangers are subjected to severe thermo-mechanical constraints and chem-

ical reactions with environments aggressively. Some of them are briefly discussed
below:

1.6.1 Corrosion Phenomena

Aluminum is a very reducing metal. The thermodynamic potential of the Al/Al3+

is -1.67 V with respect to the normal hydrogen electrode [33]. This makes it a very
 14

Fig. 1.8. Optical micrographs showing the assembly between a tube

and fin a) before brazing and b) after brazing

unstable metal in aqueous solution. Its high reactivity nevertheless leads to spon-
taneous formation of an oxide film on its surface, even in the air. This limits the
phenomena of diffusion and makes possibility of corrosion. This oxide layer however
affects the brazing process. Fig. 1.9. shows the diagram of potential - pH balance
of Aluminum in water at a temperature of 25◦ C. This shows that the oxide film is
stable in aqueous solution in the pH range included between 4 and 9. Under these
conditions, the Aluminum is protected from corrosion.
Heat exchangers, more specifically cooling radiators located in the front of the
vehicles are in direct contact with the atmosphere and are usually prone to param-
eters causing corrosion. Many corrosion mechanisms are likely to interact with the
aluminum tubes, which are a key element of the exchangers. Some of the typical
types of corrosion occurring is mentioned below:
- Pitting corrosion [34, 35]
- Intergranular corrosion [36]
- Galvanic corrosion [37, 38]
 15

- Corrosion erosion
- Exfoliation corrosion
These are multi-parameter problems for which standardized tests are most often
set up in the laboratory [39]. In addition, the constant decrease in thicknesses to
reduce the overall weight and material usage needs to be deeply studied to understand
the kinetics of deterioration by corrosion. In one of the material configurations studied
thereafter, the choice of 7072 Aluminum plating enriched with Zinc has been made to
combat the internal corrosion of the tubes. In the material type Al-Mn (series 3XXX),
the plating itself acts as a sacrificial anode. Made of a more negative corrosion
potential than the Al-Zn alloy and other family of alloys, the plating will corrode
preferentially thus prolonging the integrity of the core material.

Fig. 1.9. Influence of alloying elements on the corrosion potential of

aluminum alloys [40].
 16

Although the corrosion resistance of the Al-Zn plating has been analyzed and
quantified [40], its influence on mechanical strength of the cooling radiators has not
been published in the literature (to our knowledge).

1.6.2 Thermo-Mechanical Stresses

Origin and Analysis of Thermo-Mechanical Stresses

Different modes of loading are to be taken into account when one wishes to un-
derstand the mechanisms of damage to the materials which constitute the various
elements of cooling radiators.
Brutal variations in pressure in the loop of the fluid to be cooled and continued
sudden changes in the engine speed or the opening of thermostatic valves. This
phenomenon is now easily reproducible on a bench in a laboratory through pulsed
pressure tests.
Thermal shocks are caused by a sudden and significant change in the temperature.
They are caused by the sudden entry of hot coolant into the radiator. In order to
quickly operate the engine to an optimum temperature, the coolant does not pass
immediately into the radiator. It enters only once a certain temperature has been
reached (of the order of 95◦ C - 110◦ C.) These variations are induced by the opening
of the calorstats, which are equipped valves sensors for measuring the temperature
of the engine. Since the components of the radiator are of different geometries and
natures, their temperature rise is not homogeneous. Under the effect of heat, they
will expand and lengthen. However, the tubes at the ends of the radiator are blocked
by the header. As they are thicker and colder, they expand much less quickly (the
coolant is not directly in contact with them). Since the end tubes cannot expand
with the rest of the tubes, bending phenomena occur at the tube ends as shown in
Fig. 1.10. These thermo-mechanical constraints are only transient, once the steady
state has been reached; the temperature is substantially the same throughout the
exchanger.
 17

Fig. 1.10. Showing the expansion of a cooling radiator during a ther-

mal shock. The location of stresses occurs at the edges of the end
tubes

Fig. 1.11. Fatigue crack located at the bottom of the tube, near the
braze joint with the manifold in a charge air cooler.

Test benches allow reproducing these different modes of loading in order to test
the response to damage to the complete heat exchanger. Local measurements of
 18

temperature and deformation on a test bench in cyclic pressure were thus carried
out. Experimental measurement methods able to determine the temperature and
stress fields during thermal shock have also been developed [41]. The instrumentation
of radiators by strain gauges showed that, contrary to vibration stresses or by pressure
variations, thermal shocks cause plastic deformations and are therefore very damaging
for the radiator [42].
During the phenomenon of thermal shock, the damage is mostly localized at the
bottom of the tube, at the braze joint with the manifold [43]. This translates into
cracking of the tubes which no longer ensure the perfect seal required by this type of
structure. The tubes mostly concerned are those subject to the greatest variations,
i.e. the tubes at the top and bottom ends of the heat exchangers (Fig. 1.10.)
An example of crack is seen in Fig. 1.11 with a tube / manifold brazing joint.
It is easy to observe the presence of a crack through the thickness of the tube. It is
interesting to note that one end of this crack is near the braze joint.
 19

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Microstructure of Pre-Brazed Aluminum Alloys

The alloy 4045 is present on the surface of the base metal in the form of small
grains. It consists of an Aluminum matrix containing many particles of globular
silicon (Fig. 2.1). According to Marshall et al. and Yoon et al. this globule structure
is due to the coalescence of the silicon needles (resulting from the solidification of the
eutectic Al-Si) during the various stages of manufacturing of the plated sheet [43,44].
The very low quantity of iron in the filler metal can give rise to the formation of small
precipitates of the type Al3 F e(Si), α-AlFeSi and β-AlFeSi [45].

Fig. 2.1. Optical micrography after Keller reagent attack on 4045 and
3916 before brazing showing the different phases present [45]
 20

2.2 Microstructure of the Core

Precipitation phenomena in 3XXX type of alloy were mainly studied for the
AA3003 alloy. It has a Manganese composition similar to that of 3916 (between
1.0% and 1.5%) [46] but has a lower concentration of copper: [0.05% 0.2%] compared
to [0.5% -1%] for 3916. Iron and Manganese have a low solubility limit in aluminum:
0.052% for a binary alloy Fe-Al and 1.82% for a binary alloy Mn-Al [47]. Given the low
solubility of the Manganese in the Al-Mn solution, this is mainly found in dispersoids
and intermetallic compounds. Different authors have described the microstructure of
the 3XXX alloys (essentially AA3003) as consisting mainly of Manganese-Aluminum
dispersants of the α-Al (Mn, Fe) Si and precipitated from Al6 (Mn, Fe). Accord-
ing to Li et al. as well as Alexander et Al. the latter undergo a partial eutectoid
transformation during heat treatments (Mn, Fe) to α-Al (Mn, Fe) Si [48, 49].

Fig. 2.2. Optical micrographs after anodic oxidation and Keller

reagent on a core alloy 3916 coated on both sides with an AA4045
alloy, a) and c) before brazing, b) and d) after brazing [45]
 21

2.3 Microstructure of Aluminum Alloys After Brazing

Recrystallization and Precipitation in the Core

The new grains formed are larger than before brazing, with an average size of
the order of 20 µm, ie less than ten grains in the thickness of the sheet, and an
average size of the order of 100 - 300 µm in the direction of rolling. Even after
recrystallization, the grains texture are elongated in the direction of rolling. This
shape is sought and developed within the framework of the alloys in a concern for
resistance to corrosion [50].
These alloys, of which 3916 is a part, also rely on of the brazing of a sacrificial
zone called ”Brown Band” or BBP (Brown Band Phenomena), See Fig. 2.3.a) This
area located just below the interface between the residual plating and the core is
widely described in the literature [51–53]. This diffusion leads to a reduction in the
solubility of the Manganese in solid solution in the inducing core a phenomenon of
precipitation [54]. These precipitates (or dispersoids) are small (Fig. 2.3.b), of the
order of 30 to 100 nm [55], mostly composed of Aluminum, Manganese, Silicon and
trace Iron and are in the cubic form α-AlMnSi. Benedictus et al. have also shown
that for alloys of the 3XXX series containing Copper or Magnesium the phases M g2 Si
and τ -AlCuMn also precipitate [56]. According to brazing cycles applied Marshall
et al. have shown that silicon diffuses between 40 and 70 µm. This depth of diffusion
was evaluated in dependence of brazing time, temperature and diffusion coefficients
by Sigli et al. [57]. In the case of an AA3005 alloy plated with an AA4045 alloy, the
width of the BDP was estimated at 100 µm for brazing at 595◦ C. for 5 min. Because
of this precipitation, the Al-Mn solid solution of the BDP has its reduced Manganese
concentration thus decreasing the corrosion potential of this zone, which favors the
lateralization of the corrosion in the BBP [58].
Furthermore, after brazing the primary precipitates Al6 (Mn, Fe) are still present
in the base metal although their concentration has decreased according to the work
 22

of Alexander et al., Li et al. But also from Warmuzek et al. the transformation of
the Al6 (Mn, Fe) phases into intermetallics -Al (Mn, Fe) Si has taken place [59, 60].
With regard to the microstructure of alloy 4045 after its resolidification, two dis-
tinct zones can be described: braze joints and ”flat areas” away from these joints.

Fig. 2.3. Sheet after brazing consisting of modified alloy 3003 plated
on both sides with an AA4343 alloy. a) Optical micrographs after
reacting with Keller reagent. The BBP appears in brown and the
residual plating in white. b) Micrography obtained in the BBP zone
showing dispersoids [61].

2.4 Microstructure Resulting from the Resolidification of the Molten

Metal

2.4.1 Formation and Structure of the Brazing Joint

During brazing, the 4XXX alloy moves to a liquid state and forms brazing joints
by capillarity between the components in contact. The formation of the joint will
depend on the brazing temperature, the distance between the components to be
assembled, their geometry, the amount of filler metal available and also the orientation
of the exchanger during brazing (gravity playing a role in the distribution of molten
metal) [62]. During cooling, the microstructure of the brazing joint corresponds to
that observed during a solidification of the Al-Si eutectic. An example of a brazing
joint between a tube and fin is given in Fig. 2.4.
 23

Different authors have focused on the microstructural description of the brazing

joint. Thus Sekulic et al. were interested in observing and then modeling solidification
in the case of a type 3003 core alloy and a 4343 type plating. Particularly the
morphology of the dendrites as a function of brazing parameters were studied [63],
[64]. The authors have thus shown that, during solidification there is first formation
dendrites of solid Aluminum solution followed by the deposition of a eutectic Al-
Si aggregate characterized by the presence of silicon wafers. Dehmas et al., and
Tierce et al. also described the intermetallics present in the brazing joint [65]. These
intermetallic compounds are in the form of α-Al (Mn, Fe) Si needles but also under
more complex forms always of type α-Al (Mn, Fe) Si. Manganese and Iron present in
the brazing joint result from a phenomenon of partial dissolution of the core during
brazing.

Fig. 2.4. Optical micrography after a Keller reagent attack showing a

joint of brazing (alloy 4045) between a tube and a manifold Philipps
et al.

Different models have been established based on the minimization of potential

energy and have been correlated with experimental data. The authors have shown
that distribution of the molten alloy is essentially dictated by the wetting of the
core material. The liquid accumulates at the point of contact between the various
parts and the seal formed has concave shape. Taking into account the formation of a
residual plating film on the surface of the tubes away from the braze joints; Zellmer et
 24

al. have been able to improve their model [66]. Gao et al. correlated the thickness of
this residual plating with the formation of braze joints by application of the principle
of mass conservation and thickness measurement of residual plating [67].

2.4.2 Microstructure of the AA4045 alloy outside of the braze joints

The 4045 alloy which has not migrated to the brazing joints, forms a thin film of
residual on the whole of the planar surfaces. Fig. 2.5 gives the structure of this film.
Seen from the surface, Fig. 2.5.a), the film is composed of large Aluminum grains
whose size varies from 100 µm to 1 mm separated by regions appearing in black.
According to Tierce et al. these regions are called ”valleys” corresponding to the grain
boundaries of the resolidified plating. The Fig. 2.5.b), suggests that resolidification
has begun with the formation of Aluminum grains and that the contraction of the
volume left a gap between the grains. At the end of the process, the resulting phases
of solidification of the liquid metal residue are deposited therein. The grains consist of
a solid solution of Aluminum and the valley is composed of Aluminum, Silicon needles
and precipitates the Al-Mn-Fe-Si elements. Precipitates of the same composition are
also observed at the surface of the resolidified plating in the middle of the grains
suggesting to the authors that these are formed at the beginning of the solidification
process and have been pushed towards the surface with the growth of Aluminum
grains.
Still in this study, Tierce et al. described the nature of these precipitates and
details of the solidification path. By measurements obtained in X-ray dispersive
spectroscopy, the authors showed that the various precipitates containing the elements
Al-Mn-Fe-Si encountered in the residual plating but also in the braze joints have a
cubic crystallographic structure of α-Al type (Mn, Fe) Si with different substitution
rates between Manganese and Iron. It should be noted that in addition to these -Al
(Mn, Fe) Si type precipitates, intermetallics of δ-AlFeSi types have been identified
 25

Fig. 2.5. Optical micrographs of the residual plating layer. A) Plat-

ing surface residual structure showing the heterogeneous structure of
resolidified plating Warmuzek et al. B) Sectional view after Keller
attack, the residual plating appears in white, the valleys correspond
to the grains

[68, 69]. Although not foreseen by the Al-Si-Mn ternary phase diagram, the authors
assume that this phase is stablein the Al-Mn-Fe-Si quaternary diagram.
The nature of the phases being established, the resolidification sequence of the
molten plating could be determined by thermodynamic calculations using the CAL-
PHAD method. Using the software Thermocalc, Lacaze et al. determined the re-
solidification sequence in the brazing joint and in the residual plating. Taking into
account the variations in composition in Manganese between these two regions, in
particular due to the phenomena of dissolution of the level of the brazing joint, they
were able to determine the following sequences:
—In the brazing joint: (Al), (Al) + α-Al (Mn, Fe) Si,
—In the residual plating: (Al), (Al) + Si, (Al) + Si + α-Al (Mn, Fe) Si
The residual plating film thus formed may not be completely uniform. Buteri et
al. have observed the formation of residual plating drops during the brazing of test
specimens of 3916 plated with an alloy 4045. For these authors, the formation of these
drops would be due to the non-use of liquid plating in the creation of braze joints.
 26

From a microstructural viewpoint, the authors have shown that residual plating drops
have a structure similar to observed during eutectic Al-Si solidification.

2.5 Interaction between the molten metal and the core

Because of its passage to the liquid state during the brazing step, interactions
occur between the liquid 4XXX alloy and the 3XXX core still in the solid state. In
the literature, these interactions could be:
- Dissolution: The filler metal in the liquid state statically dissolves the base metal
in the solid state with which it is in contact. The higher the temperature, the brazing
time and higher the dissolution will be.
- Erosion: Flow of the filler metal in the liquid state on the surface causing a rapid
dissolution of the base alloy in the liquid state on which it flows. The driving force
of this flow may be gravity or a difference in surface tension.
- Liquid Film Migration: Static reaction during which a solid structure is con-
sumed by a liquid front in motion (and not in convection) that decreases the free
energy of the system and leaves behind a solid with a different composition. Unlike
dissolution, no dendritic structure is observed.
Several authors have been interested in phenomena occurring at the interface
between the filler metal in the liquid state and the solid base metal. According
to Nylen et al. partial dissolution of the core material occurs at the accumulation
points of the liquid metal [70]. The penetration is then controlled by the degree of
hardening of the core material, melting point and the duration of the brazing cycle.
After wetting all the free surfaces of the core material, the molten metal preferably
moves towards the points of contact between the parts to be assembled. The liquid
then enters the core material via its seal network of grains. The diffusion of the silicon
from the liquid towards the core leads to a local decrease in the point of melting of
the base alloy and thus its dissolution [71].
 27

Kim et al. worked on the evolution of the microstructure as a function of the

thickness reduction rate during the cold rolling step [72]. For this purpose, they
applied 3003 plated on both sides with a 4045 alloy three reductions of different
thickness. These samples were brazed and the obtained microstructure was analyzed.
This study shows that the depth of dissolution is proportional to the degree of plastic
deformation of the core. Thus for the samples having the rate of reduction of thick-
ness, the dissolution of the core is limited. The grains of the cladding appear to grow
epitaxially from the core during cooling. Conversely, a significant dissolution of the
samples presenting a low degree of deformation as well as a microstructure which has
not grown epitaxially. Two mechanisms for recrystallization of the molten plating
thus exist, both controlled by the degree of deformation and which in one case may
lead to dissolution of the core. Several limitations can be made to this study. First,
the authors performed brazing cycles with a time of maintenance of the order of 30
min against 5 to 10 min for the brazing of an exchanger. A high holding time leads
to a greater diffusion of the Silicon and will favor the dissolution phenomena [73].
This point is important because it has been shown on the one hand that the inter-
mediate restoration stage has a very strong influence on the microstructure obtained
after brazing and on the other hand that a competition can be between recrystalliza-
tion and liquid film migration during brazing [74].
The occurrence of liquid film migration in the case of brazed Aluminum alloys is a
controversial subject. Some authors have indeed linked the phenomena of dissolution
observed during brazing to liquid film migration [75–77]. Liquid film migration occurs
in many alloys as a result of temperature as for example in Al-2.07% m Cu [78] or
Mo-Ni- (Co-Sn). Rhee et al. show that the diffusion process creates a deformation
gradient coherent process that induces formed liquid films to migrate to higher energy
areas [79]. For more information on the mechanisms at work in the LFM may refer
to the article by Yoon et al. for very detailed on this subject [80]. Woods and Yang
worked on brazed alloys of type 3003 clad with an alloy of type 4147.
 28

Dissolution by the mere penetration of liquid grain boundaries that cannot explain
the microstructures obtained, as well as the dissolution observed, the authors linked
these phenomena to the liquid film migration. By performing thermal treatments
processes at different stages of the brazing cycle on specimens having different levels
of strain hardening, they have demonstrated that the liquid film migration begins even
before the plating based. This migration, which can reach 25 µm is accompanied by
epitaxial formation of new grains as well as a magnification of the Silicon particles
due to its migration.
At higher temperatures, the authors also showed that the melting of the plating
takes place at the plating / core interface. This was explained by the dissemination
of the various elements of alloys at the interface locally decreasing the melting point.
The liquid thus formed migrates resulting in a significant change in the composition
of the base metal in the areas traversed by the film. In the affected area, Manganese,
Magnesium, Copper and Iron are collected and pushed forward by the migration of
the liquid film leaving behind a zone depleted in these elements but enriched in Silicon
(Al-Si solid solution at about 1.5% m Si). The liquid film migration leaves behind it
a thick region without any precipitate, separated from the core by a strip of dense
intermetallics of the α-Al- (Mn, Fe) -Si type which delimits the final position of the
liquid. The Fig. 2.6. illustrates this process. The state before brazing is given on
the micrograph Fig. 2.6.a) while Fig. 2.6.b) shows the case after brazing where the
liquid film migration did not occur. Fig. 2.6.c) gives the microstructure obtained in
the case of a liquid film migration after brazing. The white areas correspond to the
affected area and the interface with the core alloy is clearly delimited by a dense band
of precipitates. It should be noted that the original interface between the plating and
the core can be observed (appearing in the form of a thin dispersoids). The authors
assume that the liquid zone becomes quite voluminous to dissolve all the dispersoids.
For Wittebrood, the driving force behind this phenomenon is not the energy of
deformation but rather of a residual deformation in the form of dislocations (or of a
sub-grain structure) providing the energy required for the movement of the liquid film.
 29

Fig. 2.6. Optical micrographs showing a) material before brazing - b)

material After brazing, in the case of a weak interaction between the
plating and the core - c) the material after brazing, in the case of a
very strong interaction between the plating and the core Nylen et al.

The mechanism at the origin of the liquid film migration is considered to be similar
to the recrystallization process in the sense that it is induced by energy stored in the
form of dislocation. More precisely, the authors have shown that the reduction of the
surface energy between the grains by a liquid film allows the joint to move for a lower
dislocation density compared to the system not infiltrated by a liquid film. Moreover,
the phenomenon of recrystallization also reduce the density of available dislocations
removing at the same time the driving force necessary for the liquid film migration.
Thus the liquid film migration and the recrystallization are both in competition for
the same energy. If the recrystallization takes place before the appearance of liquid
then there will be no liquid film migration.
According to Wittebrood and al. these processes take place simultaneously:
1. Migration of liquid film
2. Dissolution in front of liquid film
3. Re-solidification behind the liquid film
4. Transport of material from the front to the back of the liquid film
5. Transport of liquid from the residual plating to the liquid film
 30

6. Diffusion from the liquid film to the core

7. Diffusion from the core to the liquid film

Fig. 2.7. Diagram showing the different processes taking place during
the migration of a Liquid film Nayeb-Hashemi et al.

Brazing therefore has a very strong influence on the microstructure and the fi-
nal composition materials. Many phenomena occur and will change the physical
properties of the materials, whether in terms of brazability, corrosion resistance or
mechanical properties.
 31

2.6 Fatigue Damage

General Information on Fatigue Damage

Definitions

The definition of fatigue in materials science given by Bathias et al. is a good

start into the matter. It is defined as a term which applies changes in properties
which can occur in a metallic material due to the repeated applications of stresses or
strains, although usually this term specially applies to those changes which lead to
cracking or failure [81].
Auguste Wöhler is one of the first to undertake a systematic study of this mode of
damage. It was his name given to the curve of endurance which consists in subjecting
each specimen to cycles of periodic forces (mostly sinusoidal) of maximum amplitude
and constant frequency and to measure the number of cycles at the end of which the
rupture occurs:
- At high stress, a zone of oligocyclic plastic fatigue occurs. In this area the break
occurs after a relatively small number of cycles and is accompanied with significant
plastic deformation.
- At lower stress, an area of fatigue or limited endurance. In this the rupture is
reached for a number of cycles which are smaller as the amplitude of constraint is
great.
- An endurance zone long regarded as unlimited that it is agreed to call Endurance
limit. In fact metallic alloys do not actually have endurance limit which leads to
consider a 4th domain.
- An area corresponding to gigacyclic fatigue. In this area the limit of endurance
continues to decrease as the number of cycle increases.
The breakage of a part or a test piece by fatigue can be broken down into three
parts:
 32

-priming phase corresponding to the appearance of the first microcracks within

the material.
- a slow propagation phase where the cracks initiated will grow stably and cycles
as a function of the imposed load.
- a phase of sudden propagation leading to rupture when the stress in the section
becomes greater than the material breaking stress.

Priming

Experience shows that in general crack initiation results from the appearance
of plastic deformation occurring in a finite dimensional domain and generally quite
small.
Priming in crystalline metal materials can essentially occur from three ways:
- by irreversible cyclic slip of the dislocations (not very active in industrial metallic
materials). The application of a cyclic loading will lead to the appearance of reliefs
associated with the formation of localized deformation bands. The formation of these
bands in the most active sliding planes leads to the formation of intrusions and
extrusions as schematically shown in Fig. 2.8. These bands will then give rise to
the formation of stage I microcrack. As can be seen Fig. 2.8.b, stage I microcracks
have a size in the order of grain size. From that the microcrack encounters the first
grain seal, it bifurcates and then spreads. In a direction perpendicular to that of the
greatest main stress (stage II). The appearance of slip bands is generally early; it is
the formation of microfissures in these bands which is particularly slow. Microcrack
formation and stage I can occupy up to 40 to 90% of the lifetime of the test pieces
commonly used to determine the Wöhler curve. Note that in the case of gigacyclic
fatigue is no longer microcracks but micro-defects that control lifespan.
- from micro-heterogeneities present in the microstructure such as: porosities,
inclusions, intermetallic particles, precipitates, grain boundaries. Crack initiation
 33

from these heterogeneities results from incompatibility of elastic and / or plastic

deformation.
- from the geometrical particularities of the part such as: notches, fillets, holes.
In this case the crack initiation results from a local concentration of constraints.

2.7 Propagation

The propagation of cracks is generally described in the context of linear mechanics,

which is based on an analytical solution of the stresses in the vicinity of the crack tip
and the introduction of a stress intensity factor.

Fig. 2.8. a) Priming of microcracks and formation of intrusions and

extrusions to the free surface (sectional view); b) formation of a main
crack from microcracks; c) aspects of intrusions and extrusions and
cracks from stage I to surface of a copper fatigue specimen [82].

2.8 Mechanical Properties of the Brazing Joint

Before brazing, during the rolling and homogenization stages prior to manufacture
of the plated sheet, several authors have shown that silicon diffuses from plating to
the alloy of the core. The silicon dissolves in the matrix of the alloy 3XXX forming a
 34

solid solution [83]. According to Zhao et al., although having a weak curing effect by
solid solution, the silicon would increase the work hardening considerably for values
of deformation less than 10% [84]. The hardness tests carried out by Liu et al. on
a billet of 3003 alloy plated with 4045 alloy by continuous casting show that the
latter is harder than 3003. Moreover, due to the diffusion of silicon and Manganese
at the interface between the 3003 and the 4045, diffusion zone of the order of 30 µm
is formed and is also harder than the core [85].
Since the brazing process has a very great influence on the microstructure, certain
authors have been interested in the influence of this process on the mechanical prop-
erties. Nayeb et al. in their study, seek to determine the impact of brazing time on
strength of the joint between two parts in 3003 brazed by an alloy 4047. The authors
found that the increase in brazing time results in a decrease in the limit of breaking of
the brazing joint. On the other hand, based on tests carried out on a 3003 alloy, the
authors show that the increase in brazing time does not limit to rupture of the core.
According to Nayeb et al., the reduction of the rupture in the brazing is linked to the
reduction of the eutectic present in the joint and the brazing time (silicon diffusion)
relates to the formation of porosity (related to the dissolution of the base material) in
case of long brazing times (greater than 10 min). In case of short brazing (less than
10 min) the tensile tests show that the test pieces break in the core and not at the
brazing joint. This result shows that the area affected by brazing is harder than the
core [86].
Edo et al. have characterized the monotonic and cyclic mechanical properties of
the brazing. They assumed that the brazing joint had a composition close to filler
metal and thus used an AA4045 alloy. By melting this alloy, and by playing on the
parameters of solidification the authors obtained different structures of joints having
fine, medium or large Si particles. The fatigue tests carried out on these different
configurations show that the finer the particles in the brazing joint the higher were
the fatigue properties (Fig. 2.9.). The authors attribute this result to fragile character
of large particles that promote rapid initiation and propagation of cracks in the joint.
 35

Fig. 2.9. Effect of microstructure on Wöhler fatigue curves for Brazing

having a fine, medium and large particle size [87].

Yaguchi et al. and Fujii et al. have been interested in the evolution of the cell
structures of dislocations induced in an alloy 3003 by a cyclic loading of tensile-
compression [88–90]. These authors have tried to establish a link between the dis-
locations and the macroscopic lifetime of the alloys studied. They pointed out that
the structure of dislocations is dependent on the amplitude in stress and the number
of cycles. At high amplitude, dislocation cells are formed and the walls of the cells
become increasingly thin as the fatigue deformation progresses. The break occurs
for a very small cell thickness and almost constant. In the end, a good correlation
between the thickness of the dislocation cells and the lifetime of the test pieces has
been found.
 36

2.9 Fatigue and Damage Mechanisms

Apart from the work of Yaguchi et al. and Fujii et al. there are few studies
on the fatigue of industrial Aluminum alloys used in the field of automotive heat
exchangers from a macro and microscopic point of view. The alloys of the 3XXX
series, which have relatively low mechanical properties have been the subject of fewer
studies than other structural hardening alloys commonly used. By comparing the
mechanical properties of an AA3004 alloy with alloys of different series, it appears
that unlike all the others, AA3004 has a fatigue endurance limit higher than its yield
strength [91].
Kim et al. studied the effect of brazing on the microstructure as well as on the
mechanical properties of an alloy 3005 plated on one of its faces with 4343 and on
the other with a sacrificial plating 7072. The authors performed temperature fatigue
tests before and after brazing on test pieces having a thickness of 0.4 mm. Before
brazing, data could be obtained in both the low and high number of cycles, whereas
after brazing only long lifetimes (greater than 50,000 cycles) could be measured. For
tests carried out at a very high level of stress (close to the breaking limit), premature
rupture is observed for the brazed test specimens. In addition, a degradation of the
fatigue strength is generally observed after brazing. The authors attribute this degra-
dation in the surface state of the brazed material. During brazing the recrystallization
crevasses between the surface grains (similar to the valleys evoked by Tierce Et al.),
which would reduce the mechanical and fatigue properties. However, the authors give
no more precision as to the initiation and propagation of the cracks.
Yao et al. carried out fatigue tests with deformation imposed on 3005 alloy plated
and having simply undergone the heat treatment corresponding to the brazing cycle
to room temperature, 75◦ C and 180◦ C. It appears that the lifetime of the plated
specimens is shorter than that of the non-plated with strong deformations. This
difference tends to disappear for small deformations. According to the authors, the
eutectic zones of residual plating appear to be preferred priming zones in fatigue.
 37

Fig. 2.10. Fatigue tests performed on an AA3005 alloy before and after brazing [92]

Cracks propagate from these fragile areas in the residual plating and then into the
core, which would reduce the fatigue life of the plated materials. Finally, this work
deals with the influence of the temperature on the fatigue properties and show the
reduction of the lifetime when the temperature increases (from ambient to 180◦ C)
for an equivalent level of deformation. Thus the fatigue properties are similar at
different temperatures. For the authors, this result would seem to indicate that the
mechanisms of damage do not change with at least in a range of 20◦ C to 180◦ C.
This issue is precisely the theme of a recent work of Kahl et al. on the tensile,
fatigue and creep characteristics of aluminum alloys for heat exchangers with tem-
peratures ranging from ambient to 300◦ C. The primary aim of the authors were to
compensate for the lack of existing data by identifying trends in order to predict the
behavior of materials at a temperature where very little data are currently available.
After carrying out a brazing treatment on their test pieces, Kahl et al. studied 5
materials having different compositions (different core or plating). A very good cor-
 38

Fig. 2.11. Fatigue curves in total deformation imposed as a function

of the number of cycles at a frequency of 0.5 Hz, with a triangular
signal and a strain ratio greater than 0 showing a) the influence of 7%
AA4104 plating on a 2.5mm thick AA3005 alloy and b) the influence
of temperature for a two-sided AA3005 alloy with an alloy AA4343
at 7% (total thickness 3.2mm) [93].

relation between the breaking limit and the lifetime at 105 cycles was found. However,
the authors insist that this is a trend and case of a rule: at a given temperature a
material having the highest breaking point will not necessarily have the best proper-
ties of resistance to fatigue or creep. To overcome this first result, Kahl et al. used
the Bergstrm model which allows accounting for true strain curve for an AA3003
alloy [94]. After modification, they were able to successfully calculate and predict
interpolated traction curves at different temperatures. Regarding the influence of
temperature on the fatigue strength, Fig. 2.12. gives the behavior of an AA3003
alloy plated on both sides by an AA4343 after brazing.
The fatigue strength decreases with the increase in temperature and very few
points were obtained for the small number of cycles, which corroborates the results of
Kim et al. The authors also note that for fatigue tests at a temperature not exceeding
100◦ C, almost all of the fatigue specimens broke from sliding bands located on the
edge of the test pieces. Furthermore, it is the priming time that dictates fatigue life
 39

and thus result of Buteri et al. and Kahl et al. were unable to observe cracks in the
propagation course, this phase being very short. Nevertheless some rare cracks have
been observed on the polished section of the specimens.

Fig. 2.12. Fatigue curves at different temperatures with constant

stress amplitude for AA3003 alloy plated on both sides with AA4343
(10%) after brazing (thickness 0.4mm, R = 0.1, f = 30Hz, and sinu-
soidal signal) by Kahl et al.

Fig. 2.12 also shows a change in behavior with the increase in temperature. For
the authors, the fatigue strength is diminished due to the appearance of a creep
deformation at a temperature of between 100◦ C and 180◦ C. To prove it Kahl et
al. showed that during tests at ambient temperature a high elongation is observed
during the first cycle and then decreases from the 4th cycle once the maximum stress
is reached.
 40

By performing creep tests and otherwise plotting the lifetime as a function of the
temperature, Kahl et al. showed finally that the creep reduces the fatigue strength
from a temperature between 100◦ C and 180◦ C and that for a higher temperature at
200◦ C creep seems to dominate the lifetime during a fatigue test. A. Butri was able
to show that whatever the material configuration, the phase initiation occurs from
microstructural surface heterogeneities present on the plating 4045 induced by the
brazing method. Indeed, during a mechanical stress of the tensile type, it appears
that the eutectic Al-Si type microstructure constituted by phases (Al (Fe, Mn) Si
and silicon needles) is particularly sensitive to the stress levels at the surface of the
specimens, which is in agreement with the observations of Yao et al. These different
particles located mainly in the level of the grain boundaries, but also at the heart
of larger surface heterogeneities are broken in very large numbers when the level of
constraint reached increases.
Once the crack is initiated, Buteri et al. have identified three distinct sub-phases
during propagation from the observation of fractures. These phases are summarized
in Fig. 2.13 a).
- The first corresponds to the stable intragranular propagation phase of the fatigue
crack first in the thickness and then in the transverse direction long perpendicular to
the direction of stress, whatever the material configuration.
- The second phase called mixed propagation, corresponds to an area in which
the speed of the fatigue crack increases significantly. This zone is then characterized
by the presence of increasingly distant fatigue striae. Finally a 90◦ rotation of the
fatigue striae is observed translating a rupture.
- The third and last phase of propagation corresponds to the sudden rupture. This
phase is characterized by a rupture facies oriented at 45◦ with respect to the axis of
solicitation.
Using correlation images A. Butri has shown that the propagation phase of the
crack represents at best only 10% of the lifetime of the specimen as shown in Fig. 2.13
 41

b). The fatigue life of these materials appears to be thus governed by the initiation
of cracks.
Finally, tests carried out on specimens of the exchanger type made it possible to
corroborate the mechanisms of initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks observed
on specimens.
A significant drop in overall service life is observed in the case of tests carried out
on pieces of exchangers with equivalent applied stress. This fall is directly attributable
to the design of the structure and the stress concentration generated at the tube /
manifold brazing joint. The zone of failure of the test pieces of the exchanger types
is therefore similar to that observed on complete radiators.

Fig. 2.13. a) Diagram of a rupture facies representing the three phases

of the propagation Identified. b) Graph from the correlation data of
digital images plotting the deformation in accordance with the stan-
dardized lifetime of 4045/3916/4045 alloys after Brazing, tested at
ambient temperature with constant stress amplitude at a frequency
of 10Hz (sinusoidal signal). The propagation of the crack occurs in
the last moments of the lifetime. Buteri et al.
 42

3. TEST MATERIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL METHODS

In this work, in order to study the mechanical properties and damage occurring
in the materials used in the brazed cooling radiators, it is necessary first of all to
precisely characterize the mechanical properties of these materials. On the basis of
these results, the phases of crack initiation and propagation could be analyzed by
the mechanisms of damage. This chapter presents the structures, chemical properties
and manufacturing of the materials studied and their preparation for test specimens.
After a brief description of the mechanical tests and the characterization techniques
the methods of monitoring the damage mechanisms put in place are described.

3.1 Materials

The brazing of the heat exchangers requires the use of plated materials com-
prising, on the one hand, the filler metal and, on the other hand, the core alloy.
An additional ”interlayer” layer can be added to play a sacrificial role with respect
to corrosion. The following parts present the general characteristics as well as the
method of manufacturing and for brazing the materials used in this work.

3.2 Structure and Composition of the Subjects Studied

The Fig. 3.1. presents schematically the structures that are the subject of this
study. They are all composed of the same core alloy type, 3XXX have a thickness
range between 0.2 and 0.4 mm before brazing. They differ from their plating on the
air side clad and the coolant side clad.
 43

Table 3.1.
Alloy designations and chemical composition of Aluminum Alloys. (%
material by weight, rest of material is Aluminum).

Alloy Designation Silicon Iron Copper Manganese Magnesium Zinc Titanium Zirconium
3003 0.6 0.7 0.05 - 0.20 1.0 - 1.5 0 0.1 0 0
3119 0.9 0.7 0.7 1.8 0.03 0.1 0.2 0
4045 9.0 - 11.0 0.6 0.1 0.05 0.03 0.1 0.1 0
7072 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.8 - 1.3 0 0
3Z23 0.3 0.3 0.6 1.7 0.03 0.05 0.2 0.05
YB-18 0.3 0.7 0.2-0.4 0.6-1.0 0.02 0.1 0.25 0.05
3Z22 0.5 0.5 0.6 1.7 0.03 0.05 0.2 0.05

The standard material used for the manufacture of cooling radiators is symmetrical
and is composed of each side of 4045 plating, each representing 10% of the total
thickness (Fig. 3.1.a)).
The other (Fig. 3.1.b)) is composed of similar layers and is symmetric. But
instead of having a 10% of the total thickness 4045 plating on both sides, the internal
clad or the coolant side is plated with 10% of the total thickness of 7072. The 7072
clad is added to improve the corrosion resistance of the alloy. It has added Zn to it
that improves the corrosion properties.
The chemical composition of the alloys used is given in Table 3.1. All these mate-
rials are manufactured with varying thickness of laminated sheets with a metallurgical
state H24 (partially annealed, half hard) and H14 (strain hardened only, half hard).

3.3 Manufacturing Process

These multi-layer structures are obtained by the use of the different rolling method
shown in Fig. 3.2 . Several passes are necessary in order to obtain the thickness and
the mechanical properties while respecting the integrity of the material. The rolling
process may be categorized into three distinct stages:
 44

Fig. 3.1. Schematic View of the Materials Studied A) Standard ma-

terial B) Added corrosion resistance material.

Stage 1: In the first stage, the alloys are warmed up in order to bring them to the
rolling temperature and relieve the residual stresses. Then in the second the clad and
core materials are sandwiched and are hot-rolled to the desired final thicknesses.
Stage 2: The different ingots are assembled by spot welding in the form of a sandwich
according to the desired structure and then hot-rolled to a final thickness.
Stage 3: In this stage a thickness reduction by cold rolling is done to obtain the
desired value of thickness. The material is then sheared to the desired width and
wound as a coil.
Finally, a restoration heat treatment is carried out in order to restore the mechan-
ical properties of the material and to reach the required metallurgical state. This
state allows ideal shaping in the case of cooling radiator tubes.
This process was applied to the material used for studying and having undergone
a simple rolling process.

3.4 Brazing and Preparation of Test Specimens

In this study no actual braze joints are formed. The specimens are passed through
the conditions at which the actual braze joints are expected to occur. But in this
study all of the specimens have no contacts with any metals and no braze joints are
 45

Fig. 3.2. Schematic View of the Manufacturing of the Material Studied.

formed as they are not part of the study. So no braze, after braze and after re-braze
conditions in these tests mean,
Braze - The test sample is directly tested without passing any braze conditions.
After Braze - The test sample is passed through the conditions of brazing without
forming any braze joints.
After Re-braze - The test sample is passed through the conditions of brazing without
forming any braze joints, let cool at room temperature for up to 3 hours, pass again
through the conditions of brazing without forming any braze joints.
It has been previously mentioned that the brazing process has a very strong impact
on the microstructure as well as on the surface condition. Since the materials are
delivered in the H24 or H14 state, it is necessary to carry out a heat treatment
similar to a Nocolok flux brazing in order to obtain a microstructure and mechanical
properties representative of those of a brazed exchanger tube material.
 46

This procedure is adapted to test samples to study mechanical properties are

described below and summarized.
- The sample materials are cut from the coil roll. Sampling of the material is
done by the shears in rectangular pieces of 21 inches approximately. The samples
are loaded to the sample test apparatus. The apparatus is designed to hold 5 such
samples at a time.

Fig. 3.3. Sample Preparation Test Apparatus

The test sample apparatus with samples are sent through the furnace to simulate
exactly the brazing process that the radiator as a whole part would go through.
- Thermal degreasing of the samples is achieved by heat treatment at 250◦ C.
- A drying step prior to brazing is carried out in order to remove any trace of
moisture from the application of the flow.
- As a next step application of the flux by sprinkling on both sides to 5g / m2 .
- The brazing sample is connected to a data logger to verify the temperature time
profile for every set of the samples run.
 47

Fig. 3.4. Graph explaining the time of the sample run through the
furnace for brazing with respect to temperature.

Fig. 3.5. Sample test apparatus with data logger loaded at the start of the furnace.

The samples collected at the end of the furnace are let cool down for up to 3 hours
before they are removed from the apparatus. Once when they are cooled, they were
taken to prepare the specimens per requirements and guidelines of ASTM E8 [95].
 48

Fig. 3.6. Representation of standard dimensions for test specimen.

Table 3.2.
Standard Specifications of Test Specimen

Standard
Parameters
Dimension (in)
G, Gauge
2.00 ± 0.005
Length
W, Width 0.500 ± 0.010
R, Radius of Fillet 0.5

L, Overall Length 8.00

A, Length of Reduced Section 2.25
B, Length of Grip Section 2.00
C, Width of Grip Section 0.75

The specimen is prepared with the help of a tool that is set designed and made
to match the above mentioned standard dimensions. The sample is placed in to the
tool and machined to get exact same standard dimensions.
 49

Fig. 3.7. Standard tool used to prepare the test specimen

Fig. 3.8. Schematic representation of the steps required to prepare

the test specimens

3.5 Mechanical Tests

Tensile tests are performed for a few reasons. The after effects of the tests are
utilized as a part of choosing materials for applications. These properties as often as
possible are incorporated into material determinations to guarantee quality. They are
 50

frequently are measured amid improvement of new materials and procedures, so that
diverse materials and procedures can be looked at. They are utilized to anticipate
the conduct of a material under different types of loading.
Tensile testing method is chosen to determine the behavior of materials under
uniaxial tension loading. Load - elongation data are used to determine elastic limit,
modulus of elasticity, proportional limit, reduction in area, tensile strength and yield
strength.

Fig. 3.9. Typical Stress vs. Strain curve of Aluminum

Where,
1. Ultimate Strength
2. Yield strength
3. Proportional Limit Stress
4. Rupture
5. Offset Strain (typically 0.002).
 51

Tensile Tests

The tensile tests were carried out on a MTS Alliance RT/50 machine from the
Metallurgy laboratory of Valeo, equipped with a 30kN force cell and laser exten-
someters. Before each test, the thickness and the width of each of the specimens
were precisely measured. These measures were repeated three times and averaged
to calculate the initial section of each specimen. At the grip, a pre-load of 1 MPa
was applied to the test piece and the test was launched at a strain rate of 0.0025 s-1
controlled by an extensometric system.

Fig. 3.10. Schematic representation of test equipment.

 52

Fig. 3.11. Laser Extensometer used for testing specimens.

Test Procedure

- The power is turned on the MTS manual hand held controller pad (1) as well as
the laser extensometer (6).
- The controller for pneumatic grips (2) is checked and air pressure is adjusted
to appropriate value for given specimen. The correct load cell (3) 30 KN load cell is
made ensured.
- For elongation and strain calculation, the retro-reflective film is installed on the
test specimen at the appropriate gage length in accordance with laser extensometer
manual and ASTM guidelines (usually 2 inches).
- On the MTS computer, the MTS software is started.
- Using the hand held controller pad (1) and pneumatic grip foot pedals (5) the
test specimen in pneumatic grips (4) is installed.
 53

Fig. 3.12. Retro-reflective film (2 inches wide) installed on to every specimen.

- The laser extensometer (7) is switched on and the laser beam is aligned correctly
to read the retro-reflective film on the test specimen as per the laser extensometer
guidelines. After recording the gage length reading on the laser extensometer, the
laser extensometer (8) is zeroed out.
- The information on the test page is reviewed. The load cell and strain gage
channels are made online and the values are reset around the zero values.
- The gage length, specimen cross-section dimensions are fed to the system. After
appropriate values are entered test is begun.
- When the specimen fails, the test stops. The laser extensometer is turned off
using the laser extensometer control pad (7).
- The fractured specimen is removed using pneumatic grip foot pedal (5).
For each specimen, the total number of measurements was 3. Therefore for each
alloy 5 specimens were prepared to test.
 54

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

First of all, it is necessary to recall the initial problem encountered in the automo-
tive heat exchanger to determine the mechanisms of failure and damage of brazed
structures of the heat exchanger type in order to better understand the reasons of
anticipated cracking of the tubes during the operation. Indeed, the real blocking
point as a direct consequence of the cracking of a tube is the leak causing the heat
exchanger unusable.
In the framework to determine the mechanical properties of tube materials of auto-
motive radiators an experimental study was conducted on ten different tube materials
with varying thickness and material composition were subject to test conditions to
study their mechanical properties. Table. 4.1 shows the design of experiments used
for this study.
The tests were conducted on every type of material for before brazing, after brazing
and after re-brazing conditions. For every material, 3 specimens for each case -before
braze, after braze and after re-braze were made from the samples and the average of
the results are presented. The tests were conducted on these materials as mentioned
in the previous chapters. The results are presented below and are discussed.
 55

Table 4.1.
Design of Experiments

Trial Material Condition Thickness Clad Hardness

1 No Braze
2 Braze
3 Re-Braze
4 No Braze
5 A Braze 0.23 mm 4045/7072 H24
6 Re-Braze
7 No Braze
8 Braze
9 Re-Braze
10 No Braze
11 Braze
12 Re-Braze
13 No Braze
14 B Braze 0.35 mm 4045/4045 H24
15 Re-Braze
16 No Braze
17 Braze
18 Re-Braze
19 No Braze
20 Braze
21 Re-Braze
22 No Braze
23 C Braze 0.27 mm 4045/4045 H24
24 Re-Braze
25 No Braze
26 Braze
27 Re-Braze
 56

Table 4.2.
Design of Experiments (Continued)

Trial Material Condition Thickness Clad Hardness

28 No Braze
29 Braze
30 Re-Braze
31 No Braze
32 D Braze 0.26 mm 4045/7072 H24
33 Re-Braze
34 No Braze
35 Braze
36 Re-Braze
37 No Braze
38 Braze
39 Re-Braze
40 No Braze
41 E Braze 0.4 mm 4045/7072 H24
42 Re-Braze
43 No Braze
44 Braze
45 Re-Braze
46 No Braze
47 Braze
48 Re-Braze
49 No Braze
50 F Braze 0.23 mm 4045/7072 H24
51 Re-Braze
52 No Braze
53 Braze
54 Re-Braze
 57

Table 4.3.
Design of Experiments (Continued)

Trial Material Condition Thickness Clad Hardness

55 No Braze
56 Braze
57 Re-Braze
58 No Braze
59 G Braze 0.2 mm 4045/7072 H24
60 Re-Braze
61 No Braze
62 Braze
63 Re-Braze
64 No Braze
65 Braze
66 Re-Braze
67 No Braze
68 H Braze 0.25 mm 4045/7072 H24
69 Re-Braze
70 No Braze
71 Braze
72 Re-Braze
73 No Braze
74 Braze
75 Re-Braze
76 No Braze
77 I Braze 0.35 mm 4045/7072 H24
78 Re-Braze
79 No Braze
80 Braze
81 Re-Braze
 58

Table 4.4.
Design of Experiments (Continued).

Trial Material Condition Thickness Clad Hardness

82 No Braze
83 Braze
84 Re-Braze
85 No Braze
86 J Braze 0.21 mm 4045/7072 H24
87 Re-Braze
88 No Braze
89 Braze
90 Re-Braze

Table 4.5.
Test Material Characterization.

Material Thickness Clad Clad

Hardness
Type (mm) (side1/air) (side2/coolant)
A 0.23 4045 7072 H24
B 0.35 4045 4045 H24
C 0.27 4045 4045 H24
D 0.26 4045 7072 H24
E 0.4 4045 7072 H24
F 0.23 4045 7072 H24
G 0.2 4045 7072 H14
H 0.25 4045 7072 H24
I 0.35 4045 7072 H24
J 0.21 4045 7072 H14
 59

Table 4.6.
Material A

Property Before Braze After Braze After Re- Braze Units

Width 12.3 12.2 12.2 mm
Thickness 0.23 0.22 0.22 mm
Ultimate Tensile Strength 180 143 152 MPa
Yield Strength 160 55 50 MPa
Elongation at Break 8.0 10.3 18.5 %

Table 4.7.
Material B

Property Before Braze After Braze After Re- Braze Units

Width 12.3 12.3 12.3 mm
Thickness 0.35 0.34 0.32 mm
Ultimate Tensile Strength 194.5 147.5 153.5 MPa
Yield Strength 160 55 53.5 MPa
Elongation at Break 8.9 14.4 16.6 %

Table 4.8.
Material C

Property Before Braze After Braze After Re- Braze Units

Width 12.3 12.3 12.3 mm
Thickness 0.27 0.26 0.26 mm
Ultimate Tensile Strength 174 137.5 152 MPa
Yield Strength 156 56 60 MPa
Elongation at Break 3.0 9.0 15.3 %
 60

Table 4.9.
Material D

Property Before Braze After Braze After Re- Braze Units

Width 12.3 12.3 12.3 mm
Thickness 0.26 0.26 0.25 mm
Ultimate Tensile Strength 180 149.5 155 MPa
Yield Strength 161 59.5 52 MPa
Elongation at Break 7.1 12.5 14.3 %

Table 4.10.
Material E

Property Before Braze After Braze After Re- Braze Units

Width 12.3 12.3 12.3 mm
Thickness 0.4 0.4 0.4 mm
Ultimate Tensile Strength 185 149 140 MPa
Yield Strength 147.5 58.6 54.5 MPa
Elongation at Break 16.3 15.5 17.5 %

Table 4.11.
Material F

Property Before Braze After Braze After Re- Braze Units

Width 12.3 12.3 12.3 mm
Thickness 0.23 0.23 0.23 mm
Ultimate Tensile Strength 176.8 131.1 134.2 MPa
Yield Strength 152.5 47.4 48.8 MPa
Elongation at Break 18.7 17.6 24.1 %
 61

Table 4.12.
Material G

Property Before Braze After Braze After Re- Braze Units

Width 12.3 12.3 12.3 mm
Thickness 0.2 0.2 0.2 mm
Ultimate Tensile Strength 155.1 116.6 115.8 MPa
Yield Strength 146.9 46.2 44.8 MPa
Elongation at Break 4.8 24.3 28.6 %

Table 4.13.
Material H

Property Before Braze After Braze After Re- Braze Units

Width 12.3 12.3 12.3 mm
Thickness 0.25 0.25 0.25 mm
Ultimate Tensile Strength 184.1 149.6 140.7 MPa
Yield Strength 147.5 58.6 54.5 MPa
Elongation at Break 16.3 15.5 17.5 %

Table 4.14.
Material I

Property Before Braze After Braze After Re- Braze Units

Width 12.3 12.3 12.3 mm
Thickness 0.35 0.35 0.35 mm
Ultimate Tensile Strength 193.3 142 130.3 MPa
Yield Strength 173.6 58 47.6 MPa
Elongation at Break 16.3 20 19.7 %
 62

Table 4.15.
Material J

Property Before Braze After Braze After Re- Braze Units

Width 12.3 12.3 12.3 mm
Thickness 0.21 0.21 0.21 mm
Ultimate Tensile Strength 155.4 107.5 115.5 MPa
Yield Strength 141.3 38.9 42.1 MPa
Elongation at Break 8.6 22.6 22.4 %

From the results it is clear that the brazing process has effects in degrading the
tensile properties of the material. After the material is gone through the brazing
process, the plastic deformation starts to occur at much lower stress levels than the
material when before brazing and which is expected to occur. In order to evaluate
the materials and their performance when they are re-brazed it is important to look
in to their mechanical properties. With the yield strength being slightly higher or
similar in the after re-braze materials while compared with the after braze materials,
it is evident that there is not much impact on the plasticity and elasticity of the
materials. With slightly higher yield strength it is known that the elastic nature
of the material is relatively little higher in the re-brazed material. Irrespective of
the varying composition of the materials and the thickness of the test materials being
different in all the cases, the trend in the properties studied do not have any significant
effect. So it is evident the tube materials tested with the alloy interlayer combination
considered in this study does not show a lot of variation in the properties tested
between after brazed and after re-brazed conditions.
The brazing conditions are decisive; they will condition the final microstructure
of the materials as well as their surface condition. For all the materials of this study,
during brazing they initially elongate and the flattened core grains recrystallize and
form larger grains.
 63

Fig. 4.1. Stress vs Strain curve of test sample material A before

brazing. (Young’s modulus = 65 GPa)

Most importantly there were not sufficient studies conducted on re-braze condi-
tions. It is convincing that not much in depth understanding of this condition has
been analyzed, because it is expected that the process is complete with the first set of
braze operation. There are a lot of studies carried out on improving the existing braz-
ing conditions and operations versus going in depth understanding of the re-brazing
process. But in real time manufacturing environment the product fails to meet the
product validation conditions and there could be many constraints constituting the
cause. They are re-brazed under same first braze operating conditions and most of
the times pass the product validation. But the product validation was originally
based of the first braze process and there could be hidden conditions occurring in
the material while going through the re-braze process causing it to pass the product
validation but potentially fail at operating conditions. In order to understand the
 64

Fig. 4.2. Stress vs Strain curve of test sample material A after brazing.
(Young’s modulus = 49 GPa)

changes occurring during the re-braze process, the condition re-braze was included in
this study. There could be two potential ways to handle this problem. The first one
could be a in depth study about the microstructural changes during this operation
and analyze their mechanical properties. The second one could be an optimization
on the re-braze operational process to specifically handle the second braze condition
without having much effects on their expected behavior for successful operation (if
there are any).
In materials tested, the 4045 plating on the surface melts when the temperature
reaches 577◦ C. The silicon contained in the clad diffuses towards the core causing
the reduction of the core melting temperature. This allows the plating (liquid) to
penetrate the core and causes it to dissolve, especially at the level of the grain bound-
aries. The interlayer at 3003 present in the alloy recrystallizes with the core and does
 65

Fig. 4.3. Stress vs Strain curve of test sample material A after re-
brazing. (Young’s modulus = 32 GPa)

not prevent penetration of the plating into the core. At the end of the brazing, the
grains of the materials at the solid / liquid interface begin to grow. The grains thus
formed have no crystalline discontinuity between the core and the residual plating.
The latter has no dispersoid and has hardness greater than that of the core.
The brazing process causes a recrystallization of the material which results in
the formation of a coarse microstructure showing only a few grains in the thickness
typically from 5 to 10 grains. The thickness of the material will have considerable
effect on the strength properties of the alloy. But in this case where the properties are
compared between the braze alloy and the re-braze alloy there are no significant effect
on the parameters tested, other than previously mentioned effects. The effect of grain
size on strength properties has been studied by many authors for brazing process. The
strength properties is expected to decreases with increasing grain size in the thickness.
 66

Fig. 4.4. Graphical representation of Ultimate Tensile Strength com-

parison between the test materials.

Fig. 4.5. Graphical representation of Yield Strength comparison be-

tween the test materials.
 67

Fig. 4.6. Graphical representation of Elongation at Break comparison

between the test materials.

That is why there could be see a significant drop in the properties from before brazing
to after brazing. It could be assumed based on results obtained for the after re-braze
case that the insignificant change in the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength
on compared with after braze case could be because of grain size still being around
the same size of the after braze material. But without microscopic images it is not
possible to have a strong evidence on this claim. The standard deviation bars in the
Fig. 4.4, Fig. 4.5 and Fig. 4.6 appear to be similar to the respective cases. It is
because the deviation is not very high and the scale of the graph limits in identifying
the difference between them visually.
In a tensile test, the grains orient themselves according to their preferred directions
of deformation. When grain has a lot of neighbors, this rotation is difficult which
increases the strength of the material. On the other hand, if relatively lesser grains
are present, this rotation is facilitated and a decrease in mechanical properties is
observed. When the grain size is of the same order of magnitude as the thickness of
the sample, its mechanical properties are increasingly dependent on the morphology
 68

and orientation of the grains. The reduction in the number of grains in the thickness
leads to a sharp decrease in the number and thus a decrease in elongation at break [96].
According to Lorenzino et al. it is essential to take into account the ratio of the
number of grains and the thickness t / D, (with t the thickness and D the grain size)
and not just the thickness or the single grain size of a material. Indeed, it has been
shown that when the ratio T / D decreases and becomes less than 1, the Hall-Petch
rule is no longer valid [97].
Also by further reducing the thickness of the material the overall performance
and strength properties decrease on comparing between the before braze and after
braze of the material. For example, Dai et al. have carried out fatigue tests in strain
imposed samples in pure copper with a constant grain size [98]. They studied the
evolution of properties in fatigue by reducing the thickness of their samples without
modifying the grain size. It was found that the reduction in thickness from 150 to
40 µm results in a decrease in the endurance limit to 106 cycles, thus confirming the
trend observed by Lorenzino et al. on the AA1050 alloy. It is to be noted that the
results of the literature in this field are very few.
As discussed above, commercial aluminum alloys of the 3XXX series contain dis-
persants of type Al6 (Mn, Fe) and above all α-Al (Mn, Fe) Si [99]. These are generally
considered inconsistent with the aluminum matrix. However, a crystallographic study
has shown that type dispersoids A-Al (Mn, Fe) Si are partially coherent with the alu-
minum matrix [100]. We can be able to correlate the elasticity and fracture limits
of aluminum samples of castings having undergone different heat treatments, differ-
ence of radius and fraction volume ratio of these dispersoids. The best properties in
terms of elastic limit and limit at break are obtained after annealing at 375◦ C, which
corresponds to the highest density of dispersoids. Thus, with a good combination
of time and annealing temperature, the mechanical properties of the 3XXX series
can be significantly increased with higher Manganese and Silicon concentration [101].
This effect, although significant, is limited by the relatively low volume fraction of
the dispersoids at room temperature. The dispersoids have an effective means of in-
 69

creasing the mechanical properties at high temperatures [102]. Indeed dispersoids are
stable even at high temperatures (300◦ C), which gives good mechanical properties
and resistance to creep compared to other structurally hardened aluminum alloys.
The addition of 0.7 to 1.2% of Mn makes it possible to increase significantly
the elastic limit and to break without losing in ductility [103]. The Al6 M n type
dispersoids act as a barrier to the propagation of the dislocations and moreover lead
to a change of sliding system towards a deflected slip system (uniform deformation).
Thanks to the homogenization of the deformation, fatigue crack initiation will be
delayed and results in improved fatigue life of alloys containing these dispersoids.

Fig. 4.7. Effect of manganese on the fatigue strength of a 7XXX alloy [104]
 70

5. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS

This study was carried out in the simple case of amplitude uniaxial loading of im-
posed constraint. The results show that the plastic deformation starts to occur after
brazing at much lower stress levels than when before brazing. With the yield strength
similar or no significant variation in the re-brazed materials while compared with the
brazed materials, it is evident that there is not much impact on the plasticity and
elasticity of the materials. Irrespective of the varying composition of the materials
and the thickness of the test materials being different in all the cases, the trend in
the properties studied do not have any significant effect. Also the Young’s Modulus
of the material sample shown in Fig. 4.1, Fig. 4.2 and Fig. 4.3 shows that the
Young’s Modulus drop as we continue braze and re-braze. In order to be more rep-
resentative of the stresses on the tubes of radiator in operation, in particular during
thermal shocks, it would be desirable to set up the tests in the deformation imposed.
Attempts have already been made in this direction with the uniaxial loading. The
specification of car manufacturers is becoming more and more stringent relates to the
mechanical properties of the brazed heat exchangers. They are now to undergo ever
greater temperature variations from -30◦ C to 120◦ C, corresponding to increasingly
applied constraints. In order to ensure their perfect operation and avoid any cracking
of tubes, several actions or studies can be considered.
Moreover this work was carried out at room temperature. Having revealed that,
it would be ideal to have the tests performed in the temperature range between -30◦ C
and 120◦ C to get close to realistic testing as similar to the actual thermal shocks the
radiators are expected to go through. Nevertheless, as explained in previous chapters
a similar tests were carried out by other researchers in understanding the mechanisms
of damage between -30◦ C and 120◦ C and have proven the damage mechanisms do
not change significantly as compared to the tests carried out essentially at ambient
 71

temperature. The initial results obtained on comparison with the braze and re-
braze data, it is promising and gives confidence on further developing a in depth
understanding of microstructural level of re-braze material to see the feasibility of
having re-brazing as a process without compromising mechanical properties.
From a material point of view it is the plating at 4045 which, when penetrating into
the core during brazing weakens the material and reduces its strength properties of
resistance. If the mechanisms could be observed and confirmed imposing deformation,
two ways could be explored.
The first concerns will be the brazing conditions. It is this condition which will
determine the surface state and the final microstructure of the material. In order
to optimize them and to limit the penetration of the residual plating into the core,
a detailed study of the microstructures obtained as a function of the temperature
rise and cooling rates during brazing could be carried out (formation of intermetallic
compounds in the grain boundaries).
The second is to try to minimize as much as possible the amount of clad on the
tubes. It is not a matter of completely removing the 4045 but to find an optimum in
order to guarantee a good brazability of the components while reducing the quantity
of clad not used in the formation of joints. A strategy could be developed to reduce
the quantity of filler metal supplied by the tubes and to increase the quantity of
plating provided by the interlayers and the fins.
A study could be carried out to optimize the life of the exchangers as a goal in
modifying the fragilizing microstructure after brazing at the surface of the tubes at the
level of the 4045 clad alloy. The presence of fragile grain boundaries or core residual
plating, brazed products of 4045 clad alloy with prime locations of failures could
probably be minimized with a modification of the composition of the plating. The
addition of alloying elements such as Strontium is known to produce Si needles with
more rounded shapes [105]. The obtaining of globular and non-needle Si particles
could make it possible to minimize their sensitivity to the stresses induced at the
surface during a mechanical stress. In addition to the addition of Sr, the Fe, Mn values
 72

of the 4045 plating could be the two other levers that could be used to modify the
geometry of the intermetallics present at these same grain boundaries [106]. Finally,
a study in crystalline plasticity could also be carried out in order to understanding
of the mechanism of crack opening and their deviation by the second layer of grains.
Laboratory laminography is also a viable technique for monitoring cracking of
macroscopic samples. This technique, which is complementary to the optics, makes it
possible in particular to avoid the polishing of the specimens and to detect by volume
damage.
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 73

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