Metallurgical Studies of Transient Liquid Phase Bonding of 7075 Aluminum Alloy with Zinc Filler Metal

Strong and reliable joints is a major challenge that exists in various fields of structural engineering. Over the last decade, composite materials are more frequently used in aerospace industry, although concerns remaining on difficulty in in-service damage investigation and repair. Various damage due to heat, moisture ingress and wrinkles happening in composites can be difficult to quantify. This study fabricates aluminum alloy 7075 with zinc filler metal, which is primary alloy element of aluminum alloy 7075, using transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding. Zinc foil and nanopowder as filler metal were compared after evaluation of joint site. Various bonding parameters were tested in order to achieve strong and reliable joints. Achieving this goal would benefit industries that require structural reliability. The relationship between composition in diffusion affecting zone and microstructure is then discussed based on background studies.