Corrosion of silver-containing brazing fillers and contact materials in different conditions

SILVER-BASED contact alloys and brazing (high-temperature soldering) fillers are highly subject to corrosion problems in an aggressive environment. Atmospheric corrosion tests in marine and industrial climates suggest that contact materials are more corrosion resistant than brazing fillers. Electrochemical studies using a computerized potentiostat/galvanostat in 3.5% sodium chloride and 1% sodium sulphide solution indicate that brazing fillers and contact materials are active in chloride solution. However, the brazing filler beta Ag-3 and Ag-Cd contact materials exhibit passivation at a higher current density in 1% sodium sulphide solution.