Abstract:
Several 316 stainless steel meso-scopic devices were made using a diffusion
soldering process. Tensile strength and pressure drop of the devices were
measured and metallurgical examinations were made of the joints. Continuous
bonds were observed in the sample cross-section specimens. Strengths of the
diffusion soldered joints were up to 56% of the strength of the Ag₃Sn joint material
reported in the literature due largely to Cu contamination in the electroplated
layers. The pressure drop measured across the fluidic channels was as low as
0.76 psi at flow rates as high as 2.08 L/min. Identical samples were made using a
diffusion bonding method which produced joint strengths up to 100% of the parent
material's tensile strength. Overall, for identical flow rates, pressure drops across
the fluidic channels were higher for samples made using a diffusion bonding
process compared to diffusion soldering.
