Abstract: The galvanized steels were joined using a TIG arc brazing process with CuSi₃ as the filler metal. The arcing time ranged from 1 s to 5 s with arcing current of 70 A in flowing argon. The possible reaction products at the interface were confirmed using thermodynamics, SEM, and EDS methods. The results show that a fragmention behavior in some whisker-like intermetallic compounds happens, and that there are two layers of Fe₂Si and Fe₅Si₃ formed at the interface of the galvanized steel and copper filler. From this, the schematic cycle of the interface growth behavior of Fe/Si compounds and the fragmentation behavior of whisker-like intermetallic compounds are developed.

Key words: arc brazing; interfacial behavior; compounds; thermodynamics