Bonding Properties of 14K White-Red Gold Alloy by Diffusion Bonding Process

Jeongho Song, Ohsung Song

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Using a customized diffusion bonder, we executed diffusion bonding for ring shaped white gold and red gold samples (inner, outer diameter, and thickness were 15.7, 18.7, and 3.0 mm, respectively) at a temperature of 780 ˚C and applied pressure of 2300 N in a vacuum of 5 × 10−2 torr for 180 seconds. Optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to investigate the microstructure and compositional changes. The mechanical properties were confirmed by Vickers hardness and shear strength tests. Optical microscopy and FE-SEM confirmed the uniform bonding interface, which was without defects such as micro pores. EDS mapping analysis confirmed that each gold alloy was 14K with the intended composition; Ni and Cu was included as coloring metals in the white and red gold alloys, respectively. The effective diffusion coefficient was estimated based on EDS line scanning. Individual values of Ni and Cu were 5.0 × 10−8 cm2 and 8.9 × 10−8 cm2 respectively. These values were as large as those of the melting points due to the accelerated diffusion in this customized diffusion bonder. Vickers hardness results showed that the hardness values of white gold and red gold were 127.83 and 103.04, respectively, due to solid solution strengthening. In addition, the value at the interface indicated no formation of intermetallic compound around the bonding interface. From the shear strength test, the sample was found not to be destroyed at up to 100,000 gf due to the high bonding strength. Therefore, these results confirm the successful diffusion bonding of 14K white-red golds with a diffusion bonder at a low temperature of 780 ˚C and a short processing time of 180 seconds.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)386-391
Number of pages6
JournalKorean Journal of Materials Research
Volume27
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Vickers hardness
  • diffusion bonding
  • diffusion coefficient
  • gold alloys

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