The Brazing reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Brazing

Brazing is a joining process whereby a non-ferrous filler metal and an alloy are heated to melting temperature (above 450 °C) and distributed between two or more close-fitting parts by capillary attraction. At its liquidus temperature, the molten filler metal interacts with a thin layer of the base metal, cooling to form an exceptionally strong, sealed joint due to grain structure interaction. The brazed joint becomes a sandwich of different layers, each metallurgically linked to each other.

In the more common, more specific usage, brazing is the use of a bronze or brass filler rod coated with flux, together with an oxyacetylene torch, to join pieces of steel.

Brazing is similar to soldering but higher temperatures are used and the filler metal has a significantly different composition and higher melting point than solder.

Brazing is different from welding, where even higher temperatures are used, the base material melts and the filler material (if used at all) has the same composition as the base material.

The "welding" of cast iron is usually a brazing operation, with a filler rod made chiefly of nickel being used allthough true welding with cast iron rods is also available.

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