In the manufacture of heat sinks and water cold plate, the brazing process directly determines the performance and reliability of the product. In recent years, vacuum brazing technology has gradually become the first choice for high-end manufacturing due to its unique advantages. In this article, we will analyze the basic principles of brazing and compare the core differences between vacuum brazing and ordinary brazing to help you understand why this technology can provide better solutions for heat dissipation equipment.

What Is Brazing?

Brazing is a process of joining metal workpieces by melting a filler metal (brazing material). The melting point of the brazing material is lower than that of the base material, and during the heating process, the liquid brazing material flows into the joint gap by capillary action, forming a strong connection after cooling. Unlike traditional welding (fusion welding), brazing does not melt the base material, so it can reduce deformation and thermal damage, and is suitable for precision parts such as heat sinks, water cold plate manufacturing.

What Is Vacuum Brazing?

Vacuum Brazing is a special form of brazing, in which the whole process is carried out in a vacuum environment (usually with a vacuum higher than 10-³ Pa). Its core advantage lies in the fact that no chemical flux is required, and the removal of oxide film and anti-pollution is realized through vacuum conditions, which is especially suitable for high-purity and high-precision metal connections.

The Five Core Differences Between Vacuum Brazing and Ordinary Brazing

1. Environment and oxide film treatment

2. Material compatibility and application range

3. Joint quality and performance

4. Process efficiency and cost

5. Environmental protection and sustainability

Advantages of Vacuum Brazing in Heat Sink and Water Cold Plate Manufacturing

High cleanliness: no oxidization and impurity residue, ensuring smooth flow of heat dissipation media (e.g. water or coolant) and avoiding the risk of clogging.

High-strength connections: joints can withstand high temperature and pressure environments, making them suitable for demanding scenarios such as servers and electric vehicles.

Complex structure adaptability: Vacuum brazing supports multi-layer flow paths and tiny gap design (as low as 0.1mm) to enhance heat dissipation efficiency.

How to Choose A Suitable Brazing Process?

General brazing: Suitable for small parts with low cost and low complexity.

Vacuum brazing: Recommended for high-precision, long-life heat dissipation equipment, especially products involving dissimilar materials or severe working conditions.

Vacuum brazing is reshaping manufacturing standards for heat sinks and water cold plates with its cleanliness, high strength, and broad compatibility. With the popularity of intelligent automated production lines, Lori vacuum brazed heat sinks and water cold plates will promote more industries to move in the direction of efficiency and environmental protection.