AWS A5.8/A5.8M:2004

An American National Standard

Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding

Key Words— Brazing, brazing filler metals, braze

welding filler metals, aluminum filler metals, cobalt filler metals, copper filler metals, gold filler metals, magnesium filler metals, nickel filler metals, silver filler metals

AWS A5.8/A5.8M:2004

An American National Standard

Approved by American National Standards Institute

February 11, 2004

Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding

Supersedes ANSI/AWS A5.8-92

Prepared by AWS A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials

Under the Direction of AWS Technical Activities Committee

Approved by AWS Board of Directors

Abstract

This specification prescribes the requirements for the classification of filler metals for brazing and braze welding. The chemical composition, physical form, and packaging of more than 75 brazing filler metals are specified. The filler metal groups described include aluminum, cobalt, copper, gold, magnesium, nickel, silver, and brazing filler metals for vacuum service. Information is provided concerning the liquidus, the solidus, the brazing temperature range, and general areas of application recommended for each filler metal. Additional requirements are included for manufacture, sizes, lengths, and packaging. A guide is appended to the specification as a source of information concerning the classification system employed and the intended use of the filler metals for brazing and braze welding.

This specification makes use of both U.S. Customary Units and the International System of Units (SI). Since these are not equivalent, each must be used independently of the other.

550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, Florida 33126

Statement on Use of AWS American National Standards

All standards (codes, specifications, recommended practices, methods, classifications, and guides) of the American Welding Society (AWS) are voluntary consensus standards that have been developed in accordance with the rules of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). When AWS standards are either incorporated in, or made part of, documents that are included in federal or state laws and regulations, or the regulations of other governmental bodies, their provisions carry the full legal authority of the statute. In such cases, any changes in those AWS standards must be approved by the governmental body having statutory jurisdiction before they can become a part of those laws and regulations. In all cases, these standards carry the full legal authority of the contract or other document that invokes the AWS standards. Where this contractual relationship exists, changes in or deviations from requirements of an AWS standard must be by agreement between the contracting parties.

International Standard Book Number: 0-87171-722-0 American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126

© 2004 by American Welding Society. All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

Reprinted: September 2004

AWS American National Standards are developed through a consensus standards development process that brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus. While AWS administers the process and establishes rules to promote fairness in the development of consensus, it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the accuracy of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained in its standards.

AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether spe- cial, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this standard. AWS also makes no guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.

In issuing and making this standard available, AWS is not undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity. Nor is AWS undertaking to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to someone else. Anyone using these documents should rely on his or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances.

This standard may be superseded by the issuance of new editions. Users should ensure that they have the latest edition.

Publication of this standard does not authorize infringement of any patent. AWS disclaims liability for the infringement of any patent resulting from the use or reliance on this standard.

Finally, AWS does not monitor, police, or enforce compliance with this standard, nor does it have the power to do so.

On occasion, text, tables, or figures are printed incorrectly, constituting errata. Such errata, when discovered, are posted on the AWS web page (www.aws.org).

Official interpretations of any of the technical requirements of this standard may only be obtained by sending a request, in writ- ing, to the Managing Director, Technical Services Division, American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126 (see Annex A). With regard to technical inquiries made concerning AWS standards, oral opinions on AWS standards may be rendered. However, such opinions represent only the personal opinions of the particular individuals giving them. These individuals do not speak on behalf of AWS, nor do these oral opinions constitute official or unofficial opinions or interpreta- tions of AWS. In addition, oral opinions are informal and should not be used as a substitute for an official interpretation.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the AWS A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials. It must be reviewed every five years, and if not revised, it must be either reaffirmed or withdrawn. Comments (recommenda- tions, additions, or deletions) and any pertinent data that may be of use in improving this standard are required and should be addressed to AWS Headquarters. Such comments will receive careful consideration by the AWS A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials and the author of the comments will be informed of the Committee’s response to the comments. Guests are invited to attend all meetings of the AWS A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials to express their comments verbally. Procedures for appeal of an adverse decision concerning all such comments are pro- vided in the Rules of Operation of the Technical Activities Committee. A copy of these Rules can be obtained from the American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126.

Photocopy Rights

Authorization to photocopy items for internal, personal, or educational classroom use only, or the internal, personal, or educational classroom use only of specific clients, is granted by the American Welding Society (AWS) provided that the appropriate fee is paid to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, Tel: 978-750-8400; online: https://www.copyright.com.

Personnel

AWS A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials

D. A. Fink, Chair The Lincoln Electric Company

J. S. Lee, 1st Vice Chair Chicago Bridge & Iron Company

1. D. Wehr, 2nd Vice Chair Arcos Alloys

   1. Gupta, Secretary American Welding Society

      *R. L. Bateman Electromanufacturas, S.A.

      1. M. Blackburn Naval Surface Warfare Center

         *B. S. Blum Consultant

         R. S. Brown Carpenter Technology Corporation

         *J. Caprarola Consultant

         1. Chatterjee Caterpillar, Incorporated

R. J. Christoffel Consultant

G. Crisi Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie

D. D. Crockett The Lincoln Electric Company

*R. A. Daemen Consultant

J. DeVito ESAB Welding and Cutting Products

D. A. DelSignore Consultant

H. W. Ebert Consultant

J. G. Feldstein Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation

S. E. Ferree ESAB Welding and Cutting

R. D. Fuchs Bohler Thyssen Welding USA, Incorporated

1. E. Fuerstenau Lucas-Milhaupt, Incorporated

2. Haynie Kobelco Welding

J. A. Henning Deltak, Incorporated

*J. P. Hunt Consultant

M. Q. Johnson Edison Welding Institute

1. B. Kadiyala Techalloy Company

2. D. Kiser Special Metals

P. J. Konkol Concurrent Technologies

D. J. Kotecki The Lincoln Electric Company

D. Y. Ku American Bureau of Shipping

R. A. LaFave Elliott Turbomachinery Company

A. S. Laurenson Consultant

G. H. MacShane MAC Associates

W. A. Marttila Daimler Chrysler Corporation

R. Menon Stoody Company

M. T. Merlo Select-Arc, Incorporated

A. R. Mertes Ampco Metal, Incorporated

M. D. Morin ABB Alstom Power

C. L. Null NAVSEA

M. P. Parekh Hobart Brothers Company

R. L. Peaslee Wall Colmonoy Corporation

M. A. Quintana The Lincoln Electric Company

*S. D. Reynolds, Jr. Consultant

L. F. Roberts CWB Group

*Advisor

iii

AWS A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials (Continued)

1. K. Salvesen Det Norske Veritas (DNV)

   1. P. Seidler Armco Steel

W. S. Severance ESAB Welding and Cutting

E. R. Stevens Consultant

R. A. Swain Euroweld, Limited

*E. S. Surian Air Liquide Argentina, S.A.

R. D. Thomas, Jr. R. D. Thomas & Company

1. P. Thornberry J. W. Harris Company, Incorporated

   *S. Tsutsumi Kobe Steel, Ltd.

2. T. Vernam AlcoTec Wire Corporation

G. J. Vytanovych Consultant

T. R. Warren Ingalls Shipbuilding, Incorporated

*F. J. Winsor Consultant

AWS A5H Subcommittee on Filler Metals and Fluxes for Brazing and Braze Welding

C. E. Fuerstenau, Chair Lucas-Milhaupt, Incorporated

C. L. Jenney, Secretary American Welding Society

*G. A. Andreano Gana & Associates, Incorporated

Y. Baskin The Superior Flux and Manufacturing Company

*R. E. Cook Consultant

T. P. Hirthe Kru-Mar Manufacturing Services, Incorporated

T. A. Kern Consultant

M. J. Lucas, Jr. G. E. Aircraft Engines

*J. A. Miller Consultant

R. L. Peaslee Wall Colmonoy Corporation

C. W. Philp Consultant

*C. B. Pollock American Welding Society

*W. D. Rupert Wolverine Joining Technologies

1. L. Schuster Omni Technologies Corporation

   1. Severin Bradley Corporation

1. J. Stephens Sandia National Laboratories

   *R. D. Thomas, Jr. R. D. Thomas and Company

2. P. Thornberry J. W. Harris Company, Incorporated

*Advisor

iv

Foreword

(This Foreword is not a part of AWS A5.8/A5.8M:2004, Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding, but is included for informational purposes only.)

This document is the first of the AWS A5.8 specification revisions that makes use of both the U.S. Customary Units and the International System of Units (SI). The measurements are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other without combining values in any way. In selecting rational metric units, AWS A1.1, Metric Practice Guide for the Welding Industry, and International Standard ISO 544, Welding Consumables—Technical Delivery Conditions for Welding Filler Materials—Type of Product, Dimensions, Tolerances, and Markings, are used where suitable. Tables and figures make use of both U.S. Customary Units and SI units, which with the application of the specified tolerances provides for interchangeability of products in both U.S. Customary Units and SI units.

The current document is the ninth revision of the initial joint filler metal specification for brazing issued by the American Welding Society (AWS). The original specification was prepared by a joint committee of the American Welding Society and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). This joint activity continued for 17 years until 1969, when AWS became solely responsible for the development and publishing of the specification

The evolution of AWS A5.8/A5.8M, Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding, is shown below:

ASTM B260-52T, AWS A5.8-52T Tentative Specification for Brazing Filler Metal ASTM B260-56T, AWS A5.8-56T Tentative Specification for Brazing Filler Metal AWS A5.8-62T, ASTM B260-62T Tentative Specification for Brazing Filler Metal AWS A5.8-69 Specification for Brazing Filler Metal

ANSI/AWS A5.8-76 Specification for Brazing Filler Metal

ANSI/AWS A5.8-81 Specification for Brazing Filler Metal

ANSI/AWS A5.8-89 Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing

ANSI/AWS A5.8-92 Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding

The present edition, which supercedes ANSI/AWS A5.8-92, includes new filler metals. These are AWS BCu-1b; AWS BCu-3; AWS BCuP-8; AWS BCuP-9; AWS BNi-5b; AWS BNi-12; AWS BNi-13; AWS BVAu-3, Grades 1 and

2; BVAu-9, Grades 1 and 2; and BVAu-10, Grades 1 and 2.

Comments and suggestions for the improvement of this standard are welcome. They should be sent to the Secretary, AWS A5 Committee on Filler Metals and Allied Materials, American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126.

Official interpretations of any of the technical requirements of this standard may only be obtained by sending a request, in writing, to the Managing Director, Technical Services Division, American Welding Society. A formal reply will be issued after it has been reviewed by the appropriate personnel, following established procedures (see Annex C).

Errata

(The following Errata have been identified and incorporated into the current reprint of this document.)

Page 6, in Table 4, Titled “Chemical Composition Requirements for Copper, Copper-Zinc, and Copper-Phosphorous Filler Metals,” change the UNS number for BCuP-9 to C55385.

v

This page is intentionally blank.

Table of Contents

Page No.

Personnel iii

Foreword v

List of Tables viii

List of Figures viii

1. Scope 1

   Part A—General Requirements 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Classification 2

4. Acceptance 2

5. Certification 2

6. Rounding-Off Procedure 2

   Part B—Tests, Procedures, and Requirements 2

7. Summary of Tests 2

8. Retest 2

9. Chemical Analysis 4

10. Sieve Analysis 4

11. Melt Cleanliness Test 4

12. Spatter Test 9

13. Binder Content of Transfer Tape 9

    Part C—Manufacture, Identification, and Packaging 10

14. Method of Manufacture 10

15. Standard Forms, Sizes, and Tolerances 10

16. Filler Metal Identification 10

17. Packaging 10

18. Marking of Packages 10

    Nonmandatory Annexes 15

    Annex A—Guide to AWS A5.8/A5.8M:2004, Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding 15

    Annex B—Analytical Methods 29

    Annex C—Guidelines for Preparation of Technical Inquiries for American Welding Society (AWS)

    Technical Committees 31

    AWS Filler Metal Specifications by Material and Welding Process 33

    AWS Filler Metal Specifications and Related Documents 35

    List of AWS Documents on Brazing and Soldering 37

    vii

    
    

    List of Tables

    
    

    Table Page No.

    1. Chemical Composition Requirements for Silver Filler Metals 3

    2. Chemical Composition Requirements for Gold Filler Metals 4

    3. Chemical Composition Requirements for Aluminum and Magnesium Filler Metals 5

    4. Chemical Composition Requirements for Copper, Copper-Zinc, and Copper-Phosphorus

       Filler Metals 6

    5. Chemical Composition Requirements for Nickel and Cobalt Filler Metals 7

    6. Chemical Composition Requirements for Filler Metals for Vacuum Service 8

    7. Powder Mesh Designations and Particle Size Distribution 9

    8. Standard Forms and Sizes of Filler Metals 1

    9. Tolerances for Wrought Wire and Rod 14

    10. Tolerances for Foil Strip and Sheet 14

A1 Solidus, Liquidus, and Brazing Temperature Ranges 18

A2 Discontinued Brazing Filler Metal Classifications 26

List of Figures

Figure Page No.

A1 Precautionary Information for Brazing Processes and Equipment 28

A2 Precautionary Information for Brazing Filler Metals Containing Cadmium 28

viii

AWS A5.8/A5.8M:2004

Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding

1. Scope

   1. This specification prescribes requirements for the classification of filler metals for brazing and braze weld- ing. It includes filler metals for brazing with or without a flux and in all protective atmospheres for various applica- tions, including those for vacuum service.1 The prefix “RB” indicates that the filler metal is suitable for use both as brazing rod for braze welding and as a brazing filler metal.

   2. Safety and health issues and concerns are beyond the scope of this standard and, therefore, are not fully ad- dressed herein. Some safety and health information can be found in the nonmandatory annex sections A5 and A10. Safety and health information is available from other sources, including, but not limited to, ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes, and applicable federal and state regulations.

   3. This specification makes use of both U.S. Customary Units and the International System of Units (SI). The measurements are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other without combining in any way when referring to material proper- ties. The specification with the designation A5.8 uses U.S. Customary Units. The specification A5.8M uses SI Units. The latter are shown within brackets [ ] or in appropriate columns in tables and figures. Standard dimensions based on either system may be used for sizing of filler metal or packaging or both under A5.8 or A5.8M specifications.

      
      

      Part A General Requirements

      
      

2. Normative References

   1. The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of

      
      

      1. Filler metals for vacuum service are for devices operating in vacuum service, regardless of the atmosphere used in making the joint.

      this AWS standard. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this AWS standard are encouraged to investigate the pos- sibility of applying the most recent editions of the docu- ments shown below. For undated references, the latest edition of the standard referred to applies.

   2. The following AWS standards2 are referenced in the mandatory sections of this document:

      1. AWS A5.01, Filler Metal Procurement Guidelines.

   3. The following ANSI standards3 are referenced in the mandatory sections of this document:

      1. ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes.

   4. The following ASTM standards4 are referenced in the mandatory sections of this document:

      1. Analytical Chemistry for Metals, Ores, and Re- lated Materials (I): C 571–E 354, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Analytical Chemistry of Metals, Ores, and Related Materials;

      2. Analytical Chemistry for Metals, Ores, and Re- lated Materials (II): E 356 to last; Molecular Spectros- copy; Surface Analysis, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Analytical Chemistry of Metals, Ores, and Related Materials;

1. AWS standards can be obtained from Global Engineering Documents, an Information Handling Services Group com- pany, 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, Colorado 80112- 5776; telephones: (800) 854-7179, (303) 397-7956; fax (303) 397-2740; Internet: www.global.ihs.com.

2. ANSI standards can be obtained from American National Standards Institute, 25 West 43 Street, Fourth Floor, New York, New York 10036 and Global Engineering Documents, an Information Handling Services Group company, 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, Colorado 80112-5776; telephones: (800) 854-7179, (303) 397-7956; fax (303) 397-2740; Internet: www.global.ihs.com.

3. ASTM standards can be obtained from the American Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Con- shohocken, PA 19428-2959.

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