A solder alloy is providing, the solder alloy including zinc, aluminum, magnesium and gallium, wherein the aluminum constitutes by weight 8% to 20% of the alloy, the magnesium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of the alloy and the gallium constitutes by weight 0.5% to 20% of the alloy, the rest of the alloy including zinc.

A direct welding process for joining a current collector to a terminal pin in the construction of electrochemical cells is described. The resistance welding process utilizes increased current combined with an applied force to bond dissimilar metals with a melting temperature differential of preferably more than 500° C. Preferably, the method is used to bond the terminal pin to the cathode current collector. This method of attachment is suitable for either primary or secondary cells, particularly those powering implantable biomedical devices.

The invention relates to a brazable three-layered aluminum composite material having at least three layers with at least two different aluminum alloys, whereby an inner layer of the at least three layers is an aluminum brazing layer made from an aluminum brazing alloy, the other layers are configured as covering layers and include at least one further aluminum alloy, wherein the at least one further aluminum alloy has a higher solidus temperature than the liquidus temperature of the aluminum brazing alloy. The individual covering layers have a thickness which exceeds the thickness of the aluminum brazing layer by at least a factor of 1.5, preferably by a factor of 5. The brazable aluminum composite material is simply structured, has good brazing properties for the production of butt-joint brazing connections, significantly reduces the risk of a ‘burning through’ of brazed-on components and provides sufficient mechanical properties.

A composition for welding or brazing aluminum comprises silicon (Si) and magnesium (Mg) along with aluminum in an alloy suitable for use in welding and brazing. The Si content may vary between approximately 4.7 and 10.9 wt %, and the Mg content may vary between approximately 0.20 wt % and 0.50 wt %. The alloy is well suited for operations in which little or no dilution from the base metal affects the Si and/or Mg content of the filler metal. The Si content promotes fluidity and avoids stress concentrations and cracking The Mg content provides enhanced strength. Resulting joints may have a strength at least equal to that of the base metal with little or no dilution (e.g., draw of Mg). The joints may be both heat treated and artificially aged or naturally aged.

A composition for welding or brazing aluminum comprises silicon (Si) and magnesium (Mg) along with aluminum in an alloy suitable for use in welding and brazing. The Si content may vary between approximately 4.7 and 10.9 wt %, and the Mg content may vary between approximately 0.20 wt % and 0.50 wt %. The alloy is well suited for operations in which little or no dilution from the base metal affects the Si and/or Mg content of the filler metal. The Si content promotes fluidity and avoids stress concentrations and cracking The Mg content provides enhanced strength. Resulting joints may have a strength at least equal to that of the base metal with little or no dilution (e.g., draw of Mg). The joints may be both heat treated and artificially aged or naturally aged.

An aluminum alloy clad material includes a core material, one side being clad with cladding material 1, the other side being clad with cladding material 2, the core material including an aluminum alloy that includes 0.5 to 1.8% of Mn, and limited to 0.05% or less of Cu, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, the cladding material 1 including an aluminum alloy that includes 3 to 10% of Si, and 1 to 10% of Zn, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, and the cladding material 2 including an aluminum alloy that includes 3 to 13% of Si, and limited to 0.05% or less of Cu, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, wherein the Si content X (%) in the cladding material 1 and the Si content Y (%) in the cladding material 2 satisfy the value (Y−X) is −1.5 to 9%.

An aluminum alloy clad material includes a core material, one side being clad with cladding material 1, the other side being clad with cladding material 2, the core material including an aluminum alloy that includes 0.5 to 1.8% of Mn, and limited to 0.05% or less of Cu, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, the cladding material 1 including an aluminum alloy that includes 3 to 10% of Si, and 1 to 10% of Zn, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, and the cladding material 2 including an aluminum alloy that includes 3 to 13% of Si, and limited to 0.05% or less of Cu, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, wherein the Si content X (%) in the cladding material 1 and the Si content Y (%) in the cladding material 2 satisfy the value (Y−X) is −1.5 to 9%.

A three-layer clad material includes a core material, a cladding material 1, and a cladding material 2, the core material including an aluminum alloy that includes 0.5 to 1.8% of Mn, and either or both of more than 0.05% and less than 0.2% of Cu, and 0.05 to 0.30% of Ti, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, the cladding material 1 including an aluminum alloy that includes 3 to 10% of Si, and 1 to 10% of Zn, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, and the cladding material 2 including an aluminum alloy that includes 3 to 13% of Si, and 0.05% or less of Cu, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, wherein the Si content X (%) in the cladding material 1 and the Si content Y (%) in the cladding material 2 satisfy the value (Y-X) is −1.5 to 9%.

A hollow aluminum structure that will be brazed includes at least one brazing sheet having a filler metal layer clad onto a core layer. The core layer is composed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy containing less than 0.2 mass % Mg. The filler metal layer is composed of an aluminum alloy that contains Si: 4.0-13.0 mass % and Bi: 0.01-0.3 mass %, and further contains Li: 0.004-0.08 mass % and/or Be: 0.006-0.12 mass %, the filler metal layer containing less than 0.1 mass % Mg. The hollow aluminum structure is assembled such that the filler metal layer is present at locations that will form both an interior-facing brazed joint and an exterior-facing brazed joint. Then, flux is applied onto the filler metal layer at the location that will form the exterior brazed joint, and the hollow aluminum structure heated in an inert gas atmosphere to form the interior brazed joint and the exterior brazed joint.

A hollow aluminum structure that will be brazed includes at least one brazing sheet having a filler metal layer clad onto a core layer. The core layer is composed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy containing less than 0.2 mass % Mg. The filler metal layer is composed of an aluminum alloy that contains Si: 4.0-13.0 mass % and Bi: 0.01-0.3 mass %, and further contains Li: 0.004-0.08 mass % and/or Be: 0.006-0.12 mass %, the filler metal layer containing less than 0.1 mass % Mg. The hollow aluminum structure is assembled such that the filler metal layer is present at locations that will form both an interior-facing brazed joint and an exterior-facing brazed joint. Then, flux is applied onto the filler metal layer at the location that will form the exterior brazed joint, and the hollow aluminum structure heated in an inert gas atmosphere to form the interior brazed joint and the exterior brazed joint.