Precious Metal BAg-5
GB BAg45CuZn
BAg-5 (Ag45CuZn) is a cadmium-free silver-copper-zinc brazing filler containing 45 % Ag, catalogued in the BAg filler family as BAg45CuZn.
Reference datasheet — BAg-5 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
BAg-5 tempers and conditions
BAg-5 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As-brazed joint (fillet/lap joint in service) | Reference condition for design: properties of the solidified filler in a properly gapped 0.05–0.13 mm lap joint. | 170 | 380 | 18 | 98 HB | 22 % IACS |
cold worked, no final anneal | Pick when stiffer, springier wire is needed for automatic feeding or preform stamping. | 400 | 520 | 8 | 155 HB | 21 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways BAg-5 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
BARE-RODDefault | Bare wire / rod | Supply form |
FLUX-COATED | Flux-coated rod | Supply form |
POWDER-PASTE | Atomised powder / flux-bearing brazing paste | Supply form |
PREFORM | Stamped preform | Supply form |
STRIP | Flat strip / foil / shim stock | Supply form |
What is BAg-5?
BAg-5 (Ag45CuZn) is a cadmium-free silver-copper-zinc brazing filler containing 45 % Ag, catalogued in the BAg filler family as BAg45CuZn. It is the general-purpose choice for joining ferrous and non-ferrous metals in HVAC, refrigeration and plumbing work, and is stocked as bare rod, hard-drawn wire, flux-coated rod, strip, stamped preforms and powder-paste. It is a filler rather than a structural alloy: the as-brazed deposit is about 415 MPa tensile with 28 % elongation, and zinc volatilisation limits how long the joint can be held hot. Where a lower braze temperature and freer wetting are needed, BAg-7 (Ag56CuZnSn) is the nearest alternative. BAg-5 has a density of 9.1 g/cm³ (0.329 lb/in³), lighter than 89% of precious metal grades. It melts at 675°C (1,247 °F). BAg-5 has a yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 51% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi).
What is BAg-5 used for?
- HVAC refrigeration joints
- plumbing fittings
- tool brazing
Advantages
- Lightweight — 9.1 g/cm³ (0.329 lb/in³), better than 89% of precious metal grades
- Easy to machine — 55/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades
- Low embodied carbon — 55 kg CO₂/kg, better than 86% 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
- Hard to polish — 70/100, worse than 76% of precious metal grades
BAg-5 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
BAg-5 has a density of 9.1 g/cm³ (0.329 lb/in³), lighter than 89% of precious metal grades. It melts at 675°C (1,247 °F).
Mechanical9
BAg-5 has a yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 51% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 28% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi).
Thermal6
BAg-5 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 100 W/m·K (57.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 55% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 18.5 µm/m·K (10.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
BAg-5 conducts electricity at 22 % IACS, better than 61% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 83% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of BAg-5 takes about 780 MJ of energy and emits 55 kg of CO₂ — less than 86% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability6
BAg-5's machinability is good (55/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades); formability very good (80/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the precious metal family
Yield strength against density for every precious metal grade FabDigit runs. BAg-5 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with BAg-5
Is BAg-5 easy to machine?
Rarely machined; the alloy is gummy — use sharp high-rake tools, light feeds and flood coolant, and collect all chips for precious-metal recovery.
Can BAg-5 be welded?
Not a weldable structural alloy — it is itself the filler; braze at 745–845 °C with a white (fluoride/borate) flux, short heating cycles to limit zinc fume loss.
Can BAg-5 be formed, bent or molded?
Readily cold drawn to fine wire and rolled to foil with interstage anneals; preform rings and washers are stamped from strip.
BAg-5 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 BAg-5 | 44 – 46 | 45 |
| Cu | 29 – 31 | 30 |
| Cdcadmium-free grade | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Other (total)total of all other elements | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Zn | ≥ 23 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on BAg-5?
Joints are water-quenched or wire-brushed to remove glassy flux residue; the alloy tarnishes in sulphurous air, so plate or lacquer where appearance matters.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal BAg-5 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- GB (China)
- BAg45CuZn
- Also called
- AWS BAg-5
- Similar grades
- P07453
How much does BAg-5 cost?
BAg-5 is a high-cost precious metal ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
BAg-5 — frequently asked
What is BAg-5 used for?
BAg-5 is typically used for HVAC refrigeration joints, plumbing fittings and tool brazing. In short: general-purpose 45 % Ag filler; cadmium-free brazing alloy; stocked in seven product forms.
What is the yield strength of BAg-5?
BAg-5 has a typical yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 51% of precious metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is BAg-5 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 86% of precious metal grades). Rarely machined; the alloy is gummy — use sharp high-rake tools, light feeds and flood coolant, and collect all chips for precious-metal recovery.
Can BAg-5 be welded?
Not a weldable structural alloy — it is itself the filler; braze at 745–845 °C with a white (fluoride/borate) flux, short heating cycles to limit zinc fume loss.
What surface finishes work on BAg-5?
Joints are water-quenched or wire-brushed to remove glassy flux residue; the alloy tarnishes in sulphurous air, so plate or lacquer where appearance matters.
Can BAg-5 be formed, bent or molded?
Readily cold drawn to fine wire and rolled to foil with interstage anneals; preform rings and washers are stamped from strip.
What is the maximum service temperature of BAg-5?
BAg-5 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does BAg-5 cost?
BAg-5 is a high-cost precious metal ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- AWS A5.8/A5.8M — Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding — AWS (2019)
- ASME BPVC Section II Part C, SFA-5.8 — ASME (2023)
- GB/T 10046 — SAC (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering — ASM International (1993)
- Silver brazing alloy technical data (45% Ag cadmium-free) — Lucas-Milhaupt / Handy & Harman (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.