What Are Brazing Rods?

Brazing is an effective thermal joining process commonly used in engineering. It is often preferred over other process like welding. Brazing can join almost all the metals and alloys. In this process, a molten brazing alloy is drawn into a capillary gap between the metals being joined. Many forms of brazing alloys are used for fulfilling this requirement. Brazing rods are perhaps the most popular forms of brazing alloys used world over by professionals.

What is a Brazing Rod?

Brazing rod is a piece of metal in the shape of a rod. It melts during the brazing process and attaches to the separate pieces of metals in order to join them together once cooled.

What are the Metals Used for Making Brazing Rods?

Brazing process has the ability to join different metals and components of dissimilar size and mass. However, for this, the perfect form of brazing alloy (filler metal which melts above 450˚C but below the temperatures at which metals being joined melt) has to be present. Therefore, brazing rods have to be made from different metals like aluminum, silver, steel, bronze etc.

What is Flux Coated Brazing Rod?

There are many types of brazing processes which are conducted in different atmospheres. In the one which is not contained within an inert or reducing atmosphere environment (for example a furnace,) flux is needed to prevent oxides from forming when the metal is heated. Not only this, flux also cleans up any contamination that is left on the brazing surfaces. Flux too comes in various forms like flux paste, liquid, powder or pre-made brazing pastes that combine flux with filler metal powder. Sometimes, flux is applied to brazing rods either in the form of a coating of flux or a flux core. This flux flows into the joint when the brazing rod is applied to the heated joint and is displaced by the molten filler metal entering the joint.

To know more about brazing rods as well as other forms of brazing alloys, read Brazing Rod