Precious Metal BVAg-18
UNS P07607
BVAg-18 is a zinc- and cadmium-free, low-vapor-pressure Ag-Cu-Sn ternary braze filler (UNS P07607) in the vacuum-service BVAg family.
Reference datasheet — BVAg-18 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.
Values for the AB condition
BVAg-18 tempers and conditions
BVAg-18 is supplied in one standard condition, AB. AB is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways BVAg-18 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
PREFORM | Preforms | Supply form |
PWD | Atomized powder | Supply form |
STRIP-ANN | Strip / foil, annealed | Supply form |
Wire-Ann | Wire / rod, annealed | Supply form |
WIRE-HD | Wire, hard-drawn | Supply form |
PASTE | Brazing paste | Printing process |
What is BVAg-18?
BVAg-18 is a zinc- and cadmium-free, low-vapor-pressure Ag-Cu-Sn ternary braze filler (UNS P07607) in the vacuum-service BVAg family. It is used for vacuum brazing of stainless steel, cemented carbide and electronic components where zinc or cadmium volatility cannot be tolerated, and is available as annealed and hard-drawn wire, annealed strip, powder, paste and preforms. As-brazed deposits reach about 415 MPa tensile and 230 MPa yield with 25% elongation and 85 HB, about 15% IACS conductivity, and a service ceiling near 400 °C. The tin addition narrows the useful overheating margin; plain BVAg-8 is the alternative when a simple eutectic is enough. BVAg-18 has a density of 9.8 g/cm³ (0.354 lb/in³), lighter than 75% of precious metal grades. It melts at 600°C (1,112 °F). BVAg-18 has a yield strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 70% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi).
What is BVAg-18 used for?
- vacuum furnace brazing
- carbide tooling
- electronic component sealing
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 63 kg CO₂/kg, better than 80% of precious metal grades
BVAg-18 properties
Typical room-temperature values for BVAg-18-AB; bars are the position among precious metal grades.
Physical3
BVAg-18 has a density of 9.8 g/cm³ (0.354 lb/in³), lighter than 75% of precious metal grades. It melts at 600°C (1,112 °F).
Mechanical10
BVAg-18 has a yield strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 70% of precious metal grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 85 GPa (12.3 Msi).
Thermal6
BVAg-18 is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 65 W/m·K (37.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 67% of precious metal grades. Thermal expansion is 18.5 µm/m·K (10.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
BVAg-18 conducts electricity at 15 % IACS, worse than 65% of precious metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (68/100), worse than 74% of precious metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of BVAg-18 takes about 950 MJ of energy and emits 63 kg of CO₂ — less than 77% of precious metal grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability6
BVAg-18's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 59% of precious metal grades); weldability poor (30/100); 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. BVAg-18 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with BVAg-18
Is BVAg-18 easy to machine?
Rarely machined; the soft, gummy Ag-Cu-Sn matrix requires sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and light feed, and swarf must be captured for precious-metal recovery.
Can BVAg-18 be welded?
Not a structural weld alloy — it is applied by furnace, vacuum, induction or torch brazing at 718–843 °C; avoid overheating, which coarsens the Sn-rich phase and erodes thin base metals.
Can BVAg-18 be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed stock draws to fine wire and rolls to <50 µm foil readily; interstage anneals near 600 °C (below solidus) are needed because it work-hardens quickly.
BVAg-18 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Agvacuum grade: low volatile/gas-forming residuals | 59 – 61 | 60 |
| Sn | 9.5 – 10.5 | 10 |
| Cdcadmium-free (vacuum grade limit) | ≤ 0 | |
| Znzinc-free / low vapour pressure | ≤ 0 | |
| P | ≤ 0 | |
| Pb | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Other elements, totalAWS A5.8 total others | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Cu | balance |
What surface finishes work on BVAg-18?
Deposits can be lightly polished or passivated with the base metal; avoid sulphide-bearing cleaners (tarnish) and keep faying surfaces oxide-free — vacuum brazing requires flux-free, degreased, oxide-reduced parts.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Precious Metal BVAg-18 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- P07607
- Also called
- BAg-18
How much does BVAg-18 cost?
BVAg-18 is a high-cost precious metal ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
BVAg-18 — frequently asked
What is BVAg-18 used for?
BVAg-18 is typically used for vacuum furnace brazing, carbide tooling and electronic component sealing. In short: zinc-free vacuum filler; ag-Cu-Sn for carbide; low-vapor-pressure purity.
What is the yield strength of BVAg-18?
BVAg-18 has a typical yield strength of 230 MPa (33.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) — stronger than 70% of precious metal grades.
Is BVAg-18 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 59% of precious metal grades). Rarely machined; the soft, gummy Ag-Cu-Sn matrix requires sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and light feed, and swarf must be captured for precious-metal recovery.
Can BVAg-18 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Not a structural weld alloy — it is applied by furnace, vacuum, induction or torch brazing at 718–843 °C; avoid overheating, which coarsens the Sn-rich phase and erodes thin base metals.
What surface finishes work on BVAg-18?
Deposits can be lightly polished or passivated with the base metal; avoid sulphide-bearing cleaners (tarnish) and keep faying surfaces oxide-free — vacuum brazing requires flux-free, degreased, oxide-reduced parts.
Can BVAg-18 be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed stock draws to fine wire and rolls to <50 µm foil readily; interstage anneals near 600 °C (below solidus) are needed because it work-hardens quickly.
What is the maximum service temperature of BVAg-18?
BVAg-18 is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does BVAg-18 cost?
BVAg-18 is a high-cost precious metal ($$$$), 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 A5.8M/A5.8 Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding — AWS (2019)
- ASTM B260 Standard Specification for Brazing Filler Metal — ASTM International (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 6 — Welding, Brazing, and Soldering (brazing filler metal data) — ASM International (1993)
- Brazing Handbook, 5th ed. — American Welding Society (2007)
- GB/T 10046 (2018)
- Vacuum-grade silver brazing filler metal datasheets (Ag60CuSn / BVAg-18) — Brazing filler metal producers (2023)
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.