Self cleaning braze material

The present invention relates to a self cleaning braze paste which is used in the repair of gas turbine engines. The braze paste comprises lithium fluoride in an amount sufficient to act as a flux which allows the braze material to flow into a crack or void in a part to be repaired up to an amount where there is no residual lithium or fluoride in the crack or void, preferably up to about 20% by volume, a gel binder in an amount up to about 15% by volume, and the balance comprising at least one of a nickel braze alloy and a cobalt braze alloy. In a preferred embodiment, the lithium fluoride is present in an amount from about 10% to about 15% by volume. The braze material of the present invention may be applied in a paste form or, alternatively, in a paint or tape form. A method for cleaning and repairing a braze joint is also disclosed. The method broadly comprises the steps of forming a braze material containing lithium fluoride in the above mentioned range, a gel binder in an amount up to about 15% by volume, and the balance comprising at least one of a nickel braze alloy or a cobalt braze alloy, applying the braze material to the braze joint, and heating the braze material to a temperature in the range of from about a temperature sufficient to cause the lithium fluoride to volatize up to about 2300 DEG F for a time period from about 1.0 minute to about 30.0 minutes.