The aim of the research was to characterize the soldering alloy type Zn-Mg-Sr and direct the soldering of SiC ceramics with Cu-SiC-based composite. It was investigated whether the proposed composition of the soldering alloy was appropriate for soldering those materials at the defined conditions. For the determination of the solder melting point, TG/DTA analysis was applied. The Zn-Mg system is of the eutectic type with a reaction temperature of 364 °C. The effect of strontium on the phase transformation was minimal, owing to its lower content. The microstructure of the soldering alloy type Zn3Mg1.5Sr is formed of a very fine eutectic matrix containing segregated phases of strontium-SrZn13 and magnesium-MgZn2 and Mg2Zn11. The average tensile strength of the solder is 98.6 MPa. The tensile strength was partially increased by solder alloying with magnesium and strontium. The SiC/solder joint was formed due to the distribution of magnesium from the solder to the boundary with the ceramics at the formation of a phase. Owing to soldering in air, oxidation of the magnesium took place and the oxides formed were combined with the silicon oxides that remained on the surface of the ceramic material-SiC. Thus, a strong bond based on oxygen was obtained. An interaction between the liquid zinc solder and the copper matrix of the composite substrate took place at the formation of a new phase-γCu (Cu5Zn8). The shear strength was measured on several ceramic materials. The average shear strength of the combined SiC/Cu-SiC joint fabricated with Zn3Mg1.5Sr solder was 62 MPa. When soldering similar ceramic materials mutually, a shear strength of as much as around 100 MPa was observed.
Keywords: Cu-SiC composite; SiC ceramics; Zn-Mg-Sr solder; soldering; ultrasonic soldering.