Wabawaska AG - Präzis Löten, Hochvakuumlöten, Diamantlöten

STRONG CONNECTIONS

With our innovative brazing in the high-vacuum process, we combine a wide range of materials.

precise

Safe for people and the environment

no oxidation

ABOUT US

The commissioned tool parts (i.e. diamonds and hardmetal or steal shafts) are assemblied manually and brazed using a high-vacuum process. Precision and meticulous care are our top priorities as we execute these tasks. We measure up to the requirements of many of our
regular clients who supply tools to the Swiss watchmaking and other precision work sectors.

About us

TECHNOLOGY

Active Brazing

Wabawaska uses the high-vacuum process to braze hard metals for tools and a variety of specialised applications. Our solutions are used in cases where the joining methods have to withstand high mechanical and/or thermal stresses: examples include the brazing of diamonds and other hard materials in precision tools, brazed diamond nozzles and ceramic feed-throughs for high-pressure applications.

The term 'brazing' describes a joining method in which two materials are bonded by means of a brazing alloy; the braze metal reacts chemically on both sides in this case. If one of the materials is a non-metal such as diamond, sapphire, ceramic or cubic boron nitride (CBN), the term 'active brazing' is used.

During the molten liquid contact between an active brazing metal and diamond, chemical compounds of metals and carbon (known as carbides) are formed in a thin layer on the diamond's surface. Bonding with the brazing metal takes place via carbon atoms which are only partially extracted from the diamond lattice, i.e. they remain integrated in the diamond lattice with at least one of their four bonding electrons (valences) while the other valences are bonded to the active atoms in the brazing metal. Metals which are not very chemically active (such as precious metals) cannot form carbides of this sort; highly reactive metals are required for this purpose. The simplest brazing metals consist of a combination of precious metals alloyed with a small quantity of a chemically reactive element such as titanium or zircon.

A successful reaction between the brazing metal and the diamond is evidenced by the black coloration of the contact surface and the loss of light reflection, which can be observed very clearly on translucent diamonds.

Wabawaska only carries out high-vacuum brazing in the lower range from 10-5 mbar, between 800 and 900°C (depending on the type of brazing metal). The high-vacuum process offers a high level of safety as regards oxidation and protection of the materials used. The brazing metals normally used are copper- and silver-based; in the forms that are used, they pose no hazard for people or the environment, i.e. in particular they do not contain any Zn, Cd, Pb or Cr.

Applications

Application-related wear of a diamond or other hard materials in a tool is often due to a thermo-chemical reaction between its contact point and the work piece. Brazing with active brazing metal dramatically increases the heat transported from the contact point through the hard metal into the brazing metal and on into the substrate; this phenomenon is further enhanced by the use of vibration-reducing shaft materials.

Advances in brazing technology - especially more refined joining methods for brazing with greater dimensional accuracy - are opening up new application areas, which also include miniaturisation. Brazing metals with high resistance to corrosion also mean that new applications in the food and medical sectors are feasible.

Active brazing is in growing demand for instrument parts which are subject to high thermal and mechanical stress, such as power feed-throughs or diamond nozzles. Thermal stability extends above 500°C in these cases.

Technical manuals

Technology

Consulting Service