J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2026, Vol. 244: 46-59.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2025.04.031

• Research Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Exceptional mechanical properties of dual-phase heterogenous structure in Cf/C and superalloy joints via cold spray additive manufacturing-assisted brazing

Pengcheng Wanga,b, Wanting Shia, Lei Gua, Hao Rana, Zhaoyi Pand, Yu Sua, Xiaoguo Songc, Jian Caoc, Haiyan Chena,*, Wenya Lia,*   

  1. aState Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China;
    bResearch & Development Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518063, China;
    cState Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;
    dXi'an Space Engine Company Limited, Xi’an 710072, China
  • Received:2024-12-30 Revised:2025-03-25 Accepted:2025-04-09 Published:2026-02-10 Online:2025-05-29
  • Contact: *E-mail address: hychen@nwpu.edu.cn (H. Chen), liwy@nwpu.edu.cn (W. Li) .

Abstract: Heterogeneous alloy designs can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of metallic materials through synergistic effects. In this work, the cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM)-assisted brazing is proposed to significantly improve the mechanical properties of Cf/C and superalloy joint. The CSAM process promotes the atomic diffusion and metallurgical reaction between the interlayer and superalloy substrate. The findings indicate that the diffusion of Fe, Cr, Ni and Ti within brazing seam promotes the formation of a novel dual-phase heterogeneous structure, comprising a Cr-rich σ phase and a Ni3Ti phase. The σ and Ni3Ti dual-phase heterogeneous structure significantly improves shear strength through a synergistic strengthening mechanism, achieving an effective combination of strength and toughness. The ductile Ni3Ti phase enhances the deformation capacity, while the hard σ phase serves as a continuous barrier to dislocation movement, thereby significantly enhancing the mechanical properties of the brazed joint. The highest shear strength of the Cf/C and superalloy brazed joint reaches 20.9 MPa using a CSAM NiTi75 interlayer, compared to only 6.1 MPa for the joint brazed with conventional NiTi75 powder filler. This work demonstrates the significant potential of CSAM-assisted brazing to enhance the mechanical properties of brazed joints, offering a novel approach to directly prepare brazing interlayers from metal powders.

Key words: Cold spray additive manufacturing, Brazing, Cf/C composites, Heterogeneous structure, Mechanical property