Copper-phosphor solder for brazing copper

Often, copper pipes are used to organize water supply systems. In addition, these elements are often used in the design of residential premises in the style of steampunk. Regardless of the purpose of using such elements, copper pipes must be somehow connected with each other. The easiest way to do this is with copper-phosphorus solder. In this case, the joint will be neat and airtight. After the joints have solidified, the structure will be as solid as a single tube. However, before you start soldering with copper-phosphor solder, it is worth to learn some features of the material with which you are going to work.

Useful information about copper

A soft alloy of metal began to be used in the ancient centuries for coinage. Today, this material has become a little less popular, but heating and water supply systems made from copper pipes are still the most durable reliable and durable.

Installation of such lines is carried out by soldering. During operation, metal elements are connected with solder - a specially selected material, the melting point of which should be less than that of the workpiece.

The process of soldering is not difficult. The main thing is to choose the connecting material correctly. In our case, it is copper-phosphorus solder. Also it is necessary to decide on the method of soldering. There are several.

Methods of soldering copper

It is possible to connect the main line from copper pipes in two ways:

• Low-temperature. This method is the simplest and most frequently used at home. In this case, soft solder of tin, lead or alloys of these metals with addition of a part of silver is used. At low-temperature processing, the melting temperature of copper-phosphor solder is not more than 450 degrees.
• High-temperature (solid). Such a soldering is rather difficult and expensive to organize at home, since in this case the melting point of the material should be between 600 and 900 degrees.

What tools will you need?

To qualitatively connect the highway, you must immediately prepare the following tools:

• Truborez. Without it, it will not be possible to cut the elements of the trunk evenly. With the help of a pipe cutter, you can make an ideal cut.

• Faskosnimatel. This tool is necessary for rounding and stripping the edge of the cut pipe, in order to achieve high-quality joining of the parts.
• The expander. If the use of couplings and fittings is planned in the course of work, then thanks to this tool it will be possible to quickly expand a part of the pipe to the desired size.
• Ruffles and brushes. After soldering, the pipes must necessarily be cleaned of oxide formations.
• Reflector. It is attached to the nozzle of the burner in order to direct the flame to a certain area. If the reflector is not installed, there is a risk of damaging the surrounding objects.
• Gas-burner. With its help heating of copper-phosphorus solder is carried out.

The last working tool should be told a little bit more.

Gas-burner

In order for the pipeline to be properly welded, care must be taken to select the appropriate burner. Devices are:

• With disposable bottles (household).
• With a stationary balloon.
• Acetyl-oxygen.

The latter type is optimal for joining copper pipes. It is exactly such a burner that needs to be purchased.

Also, the instruments differ in the strength of the heat of the solder. The higher the heating temperature, the more powerful the device is. Respectively:

• For a soft solder, a cheaper and less powerful burner is suitable. Therefore, you can safely purchase a semi-professional tool with gas thermofan. Such a burner can develop temperatures up to 650 degrees. The main advantage of such a tool is the ability to control the intensity of the flame. Thus, it is possible to select the optimum melting temperature regime.
• For hard solder, a professional tool will be required, the cost of which will be several times higher. Therefore, it makes no sense to spend money on it, but if you really want to, then why not.

Solder

Before soldering copper-phosphorus solder pipes, you need to purchase material that will act as a binder component. Solder also has two types:

• Solid. Such solder is made in the form of long rods. The composition of Cu94 P6 and Cu92 P6 Ag2 connecting materials of solid type includes a 6% phosphorus additive, so the maximum permissible melting point is 750 degrees. In solders of another type, there are no substances that lower the possible temperature treatment, so they can be heated up to 900 degrees. Carbide materials are most often used for connecting gas supply pipes, air conditioning and hot water pipes, as well as for the installation of high pressure lines.
• Soft. The solder of this type is produced in the form of a thin wire, the diameter of which rarely exceeds 3 mm. Soft material is more suitable for use in everyday life, when organizing water supply networks.

In addition, it is recommended to purchase a flux for copper-phosphorus solders. This pasty substance sold in cans is necessary in order to quickly and efficiently clean the joints of pipes. The flux well removes oxide from the seams, due to which the characteristics of the solder are greatly improved. In addition, this component enhances the adhesion of the solder and copper surface.

Paste is produced for soft and hard solder. Therefore, the choice of flux is necessary based on the selected method of connecting pipes.

In addition to solder, burners and other tools, it is also recommended to prepare fittings. They will be required if you have to make turns of the water main. These elements are inexpensive.

Copper-phosphor solder for brazing copper: features

If we talk about this material, we should pay attention to the fact that it differs good fluidity. It can be used not only for copper, but also for its other alloys.

Since the composition of this material includes phosphorus, which has corrosion resistance, the flux can not be purchased additionally.

Copper-phosphorus type solders are usually used to connect elements in equipment experiencing medium vibration loads. If the composition of the connecting material includes silver, the ductility of the components increases.

Varieties of solders for copper

For the processing of pipes from this material, the following materials are suitable:

• 102. In this three-component solder of copper and phosphorus contains not more than 2% of silver. Due to reduced plasticity, the composition slowly spreads. Suitable for soldering elements that do not experience strong shock or vibration loads.
• 105. Copper-phosphorus solder with silver (5%) also spreads rather slowly, but has a higher plasticity. The seam obtained with its help can withstand minor loads from vibrations.
• 115. Another three-component solder, which, in addition to copper and phosphorus, contains 15 percent silver. This is a fairly plastic material, with which you can create seams on highways, experiencing quite strong loads.

Selecting all the necessary components, it remains to start working.

Brazing with soft solder

Low-temperature brazing is suitable for mounting a heating or water supply network if the temperature of the heating medium does not exceed 130 degrees, and the diameter of the copper pipes is not more than 10 cm.

To perform the soldering, you need:

• Peel the joined surfaces.
• Apply flux on them.

• Paste elements into each other.
• Preheat the connection area with the burner to 200-250 degrees.
• Apply solder to the edges of the parts.
• Constantly moving the burner, heat the connection for 15-20 seconds.
• When the flux becomes darker, you need to put a little more solder on the soldering zone. Once the material is on the hot surface, it immediately begins to melt and fill the space between the pipe and the bell.

Brazing

This method of connecting pipes is necessary if the operating temperature of the pipeline exceeds 110 degrees. In this case, the soldering is performed by the flame method and an annealing of the working material is assumed.

When using a solid material, there is no need for surface treatment with flux.

To make a connection, you must:

• Collect and reheat the docking assembly.
• Introduce hard solder into the area where the bell and tube are connected together.
• Soften the material with a gas burner. It must be ensured that the product does not overheat, therefore it is recommended that the burner be constantly moved.
• When the primary linkage of the trunk elements occurs, turn the pipe and wind the molten solder to the adjacent section.

This method of soldering is more complicated than the previous method, but it has several advantages:

• The seams are more durable and reliable.
• It becomes possible to slightly reduce the width of the joint, so that the seam will look neater.

In addition, this method is applicable for the installation of systems that operate at fairly high temperatures.

Brass brazing with copper-phosphor solder is carried out using the same technology.

Possible errors that can be tolerated when soldering

In the process of work, some people do not take into account the defects on the surfaces of the elements being joined. Very often they appear after cutting pipes. If you leave these defects without attention, then the seam will not be as reliable as it should be.

The flux should be applied evenly, without missing. If it does not exist on any site, the pipeline can start rusting quite quickly.

If the pipe is overheated, the flux paste will just burn. This is also not very good.

In the course of work, it is easy to get serious burns (not only from the flame of the burner, but also in contact with reactive substances), so before starting soldering, wear protective gloves, goggles and clothing.