Precious Metal BAg-3 As Brazed
Heat-treated state
UNS P07501 · GB BAg50CuZnCdNi
Reference condition for design allowables of the finished joint (thin-gap, 0.05–0.13 mm, on stainless or carbide).
Values for the As Brazed condition
What is BAg-3 As Brazed?
BAg-3 As Brazed is BAg-3 heat treated to As Brazed — reference condition for design allowables of the finished joint (thin-gap, 0.05–0.13 mm, on stainless or carbide). BAg-3 As Brazed has a yield strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 88% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 84 GPa (12.2 Msi). BAg-3 As Brazed has a density of 9.7 g/cm³ (0.35 lb/in³), lighter than 78% of precious metal grades. It melts at 632°C (1,170 °F).
Advantages
- High strength — 280 MPa (40.6 ksi), better than 88% of precious metal grades
- Low embodied carbon — 60 kg CO₂/kg, better than 82% of precious metal grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 89% of precious metal grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 62/100, worse than 83% of precious metal grades
- Limited formability — 70/100, worse than 78% of precious metal grades
- Limited ductility — 20%, worse than 77% of precious metal grades
- Hard to polish — 70/100, worse than 76% of precious metal grades
BAg-3 As Brazed properties
Typical room-temperature values for BAg-3 As Brazed; 3 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are BAg-3 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
BAg-3 As Brazed has a density of 9.7 g/cm³ (0.35 lb/in³), lighter than 78% of precious metal grades. It melts at 632°C (1,170 °F).
Mechanical9
BAg-3 As Brazed has a yield strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 88% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 84 GPa (12.2 Msi).
Thermal5
BAg-3 As Brazed is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 60 W/m·K (34.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 72% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 19 µm/m·K (10.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
BAg-3 As Brazed conducts electricity at 17 % IACS, worse than 56% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 83% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of BAg-3 As Brazed takes about 900 MJ of energy and emits 60 kg of CO₂ — less than 80% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability4
BAg-3 As Brazed's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 59% of precious metal grades); formability very good (70/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with BAg-3 As Brazed
Is BAg-3 easy to machine?
Rarely machined; the alloy is gummy — use sharp HSS tools, generous rake and light feeds if trimming solidified fillets.
Can BAg-3 be welded?
Not an arc-weld alloy — it is the filler itself: braze at 690–815 °C with a fluoride/borate flux (FB3-A) and 0.05–0.13 mm joint clearance; keep the torch off the filler and heat the base metal.
Can BAg-3 be formed, bent or molded?
Readily drawn to wire and rolled to thin strip/foil; anneal between passes since the Cd-Zn alloy work hardens quickly.
What surface finishes work on BAg-3?
Remove all flux residue with hot water or citric acid soak to avoid corrosive attack; joints can be plated or passivated, but never grind or heat Cd-bearing filler without local exhaust ventilation.
BAg-3 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| AgAWS A5.8/A5.8M BAg-3 | 49 – 51 | 50 |
| Cu | 14.5 – 16.5 | 15.5 |
| Cdtoxic — fume extraction mandatory; RoHS/REACH restricted | 15 – 17 | 16 |
| Niimproves wetting of stainless and carbide | 2.5 – 3.5 | 3 |
| Other (total)total of all other elements | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Zn | ≥ 13.5 (balance) |
BAg-3 As Brazed — frequently asked
What is BAg-3 As Brazed used for?
BAg-3 As Brazed is typically used for stainless steel brazing, tungsten carbide tooling and food/medical equipment fabrication. In short: nickel-bearing for stainless; strongest common cadmium BAg; best wetting on carbide.
What is the yield strength of BAg-3 As Brazed?
BAg-3 As Brazed has a typical yield strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 88% of precious metal grades.
Is BAg-3 As Brazed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 59% of precious metal grades). Rarely machined; the alloy is gummy — use sharp HSS tools, generous rake and light feeds if trimming solidified fillets.
Can BAg-3 As Brazed be welded?
Not an arc-weld alloy — it is the filler itself: braze at 690–815 °C with a fluoride/borate flux (FB3-A) and 0.05–0.13 mm joint clearance; keep the torch off the filler and heat the base metal.
What surface finishes work on BAg-3 As Brazed?
Remove all flux residue with hot water or citric acid soak to avoid corrosive attack; joints can be plated or passivated, but never grind or heat Cd-bearing filler without local exhaust ventilation.
Can BAg-3 As Brazed be formed, bent or molded?
Readily drawn to wire and rolled to thin strip/foil; anneal between passes since the Cd-Zn alloy work hardens quickly.
What is the maximum service temperature of BAg-3 As Brazed?
BAg-3 As Brazed is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- AWS A5.8/A5.8M — Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding — American Welding Society (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering (brazing filler metal data) — ASM International (1993)
- AWS Brazing Handbook, 5th ed. — American Welding Society (2007)
- GB/T 10046 (2018)
- Silver brazing alloy technical data (BAg series) — Lucas-Milhaupt / Harris Products Group (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.