Topic 1 - Permanent Methods Of Joining Metals

Question 1

What are some properties of a soft solder

Answer 1

It’s often used in the manufacture of electrical circuits and joining copper pipes together
The joint must be very clean
A soldering iron is used for electrical components

Question 2

What are some properties of a hard solder

Answer 2

It’s used to join precious metals together (such as silver and gold)
The heat is applied by using a blow torch or brasing torch
The solder is an alloy of silver, copper and zinc
The process is similar to soft solder

Question 3

What are some properties of brasing

Answer 3

The flux (borax) is applied to the cleaned joint before heating 
The flux prevents the steel from oxidising during heating and will help the brass to flow into the joint
It can be used to join steel to steel

Question 4

What are some properties of oxyacetylene gas welding

Answer 4

It is commonly used to join mild steels
It’s a mixture of oxygen and acetylene and burns as an intense and focused flame (3600C)
When the flame comes into contact with the steel it melts the surface which forms a molten pool allowing welding to take place

Question 5

What are some properties of electric arc welding

Answer 5

It’s a process that used to join metal to metal by using electricity
Enough heat is created to melt the metal and as the melted metals cool, they bind together
It used a welding power supply to create an electric arc between an electrode and the base material to melt metals at the welding point