Controlled Atmospheric Brazing (CAB)
The aluminum radiators as inexpensive heat exchangers for such an AiO compact water cooling system, if they are to really last, are expediently manufactured (as in automotive engineering) using CAB (controlled atmospheric brazing). For this, however, one does not use the original, aggressive flux, but a non-corrosive flux, only based on potassium aluminum fluoride. But how does the whole thing actually work?
In the molten state, the special flux (in this case, for example, NOCOLOK© by Solvay Fluor) then transforms into a so-called “ionic liquid”, which in turn attacks and partially removes the interfering oxide layer of the aluminum alloy. However, this requires a special protective atmosphere of nitrogen (< 200 ppm oxygen). But what now makes this special flux so special that it does not exert a disruptive influence later on? It is the special mode of action!
Anyone who has been reasonably attentive in chemistry will now also understand that it is harmful if the flux used merely “reduces” the oxide (written in simplified terms) in a “redox reaction”, i.e. a simple exchange of electrons takes place. This cannot be completely stopped later, but only reduced or partially inhibited. The expedient flux, on the other hand, “dissolves” the oxide completely. This can be compared well with table salt that dissolves in water.
The following figure shows how the applied layer of flux behaves in detail and during the soldering process at just under 600 °C:
The 7 steps as published by Solvay show how the individual processes are structured. This process has been used successfully for decades, but also requires somewhat more effort than brazing with corrosive fluxes.
7_Steps
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