Wetting and brazing of YIG ceramics using Ag–CuO–TiO2 metal filler

The wetting and brazing of Y3Fe5O12 (YIG) ceramics with a Ag–8CuO–2TiO2 filler was investigated for the first time. For comparison, the wettability of a Ag–10CuO filler on YIG ceramics was similarly investigated. The Ag–8CuO–2TiO2 filler has an equilibrium contact angle of approximately 31 °C on the YIG substrate at 1000 °C; thus, its wettability is excellent. Moreover, its wettability exceeds that of Ag–10CuO. The microstructure and the interfacial structure between the filler and the substrate were determined using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, EPMA and transmission electron microscopy. The liquid Ag–8CuO–2TiO2 filler can react with the YIG substrate by forming continuous Y2Ti2O7 layers with dotted CuFe2O4 and promote the wetting behavior and bonding performance. The average shear strength could exceed 30 MPa for the joints at a brazing temperature of 1000 °C. As rupture occurred adjacent to the seam at the ceramic side, the strengths of the interfaces were characterized via nanoindentation. The hardness of the interface with doped TiO2 exceeds that of Ag–10CuO, which is strengthened by the dotted CuFe2O4 among Y2Ti2O7.