Abstract
This research aimed to study a Bi-Ag-Mg soldering alloy and the direct soldering of Al(2)O(3) ceramics and Ni-SiC composites. Bi11Ag1Mg solder has a broad melting interval, which mainly depends on the silver and magnesium content. The solder starts to melt at a temperature of 264 °C. Full fusion terminates at a temperature of 380 °C. The microstructure of the solder is formed by a bismuth matrix. The matrix contains segregated silver crystals and an Ag (Mg, Bi) phase. The average tensile strength of solder is 26.7 MPa. The boundary of the Al(2)O(3)/Bi11Ag1Mg joint is formed by the reaction of magnesium, which segregates in the vicinity of a boundary with a ceramic substrate. The thickness of the high-Mg reaction layer at the interface with the ceramic material was approximately 2 μm. The bond at the boundary of the Bi11Ag1Mg/Ni-SiC joint was formed due to the high silver content. At the boundary, there were also high contents of Bi and Ni, which suggests that there is a NiBi(3) phase. The average shear strength of the combined Al(2)O(3)/Ni-SiC joint with Bi11Ag1Mg solder is 27 MPa.