Differences between Welding,

Soldering and Brazing

Welding, soldering and brazing are the metal joining process. Each type of joining process has its
own significance. Type of joining process to be applied for joining two parts depends on many
factors. Below tabular comparison tells us the differences between the joining processes welding,
soldering and brazing in aspects like strength comparison, temperature requirement, change in
properties after joining, cost involved, heat treatment, preheating, etc.

S.No Welding Soldering Brazing

Welding joints are strongest joints Soldering joints are weakest joints Brazing joints are weaker than
used to bear the load. Strength of the out of three. Not meant to bear the welding joints but stronger than
1
welded portion of joint is usually load. Use to make electrical contacts soldering joints. This can be used
more than the strength of base metal. generally. to bear the load up to some extent.

Temperature required is 3800C in Temperature requirement is up to Temperature may go to 600C in

2
welding joints. 450C in soldering joints. brazing joints.

To join work pieces need to be Heating of the work pieces is not Work pieces are heated but below
3
heated till their melting point. required. their melting point.

Mechanical properties of base metal May change in mechanical

No change in mechanical properties
4 may change at the joint due to properties of joint but it is almost
after joining.
heating and cooling. negligible.

Heat cost is involved and high skill Cost involved and skill requirements Cost involved and sill required are
5
level is required. are very low. in between other two.

Heat treatment is generally required

No heat treatment is required after
6 to eliminate undesirable effects of No heat treatment is required.
brazing.
welding.

No preheating of workpiece is Preheating of workpieces before Preheating is desirable to make

7 required before welding as it is soldering is good for making good strong joint as brazing is carried
carried out at high temperature. quality joint. out at relatively low temperature.

Soldering, brazing, and welding are all methods of joining two or more pieces of metal
and selected other materials. They are also methods used to fill gaps in metal parts.

In welding, the two metals (or thermoplastic) must be similar. For example, copper
cannot be welded to steel. Welding uses high temperatures to melt and join two metal
parts. A filler metal is often used as well. When properly done, the finished weld is as
strong as the surrounding metal. But if the process is not carried out and the welder
applies too much heat, it can change the metals properties and weaken the weld. There
are several different types of welding, including metal inert gas (MIG), arc, electron
beam, laser, and stir friction. Welding is also widely used to slice apart large metal
structures by melting through them.

Brazing joins two metals by heating and melting a filler (alloy) that bonds to the two
pieces of metal and joins them. The filler obviously must have a melting temperature
below that of the metal pieces. Brazing can join dissimilar metals such as aluminum,
silver, copper, gold, and nickel. Flux is often used during brazing. It is a liquid that
promotes wetting, which lets the filler flow over the metal parts to be joined. It also
cleans the parts of oxides so that the filler bonds more tightly to the metal parts. In
addition, fluxes are used in welding to clean the metal surfaces.

Properly brazed joints can be stronger than the pieces being joined, but are not as strong
as welded joints. Brazing also has minimal effects on the two metal parts.

Soldering is a low-temperature analog to brazing. By the American Welding Societys

definition, soldering takes place with fillers (also known as solders) that melt at below
840F (450C). Metals that can be soldered include gold, silver, copper, brass, and iron.
The filler, called solder, melts. When it solidifies, it is bonded to the metal parts and joins
them. The bond is not as strong as brazed joint or welded one. Solder was once made
mainly of lead, but environmental concerns are pushing industry to lead-free
alternatives.

Flux is used in soldering, just as it is in brazing and welding to clean the metal surfaces
and make it easy for the solder to flow over the pieces to be joined.

Soldering is also used to join electrical components. The joint is not necessarily strong or
structural, but electrically connects the parts with conductive solder.