Reaction brazing of tungsten or molybdenum body to carbonaceous support

This invention relates to the joining of dense bodies of refractory metal such as tungsten or molybdenum to carbonaceous bodies, and more particularly to the employment of reaction brazing at high temperature to join dense bodies of tungsten or molybdenum or alloys thereof to carbonaceous supports, such as graphite or carbon-carbon composites. Even more particularly, the invention relates to the reaction brazing of x-ray generating anodes made primarily of either molybdenum or tungsten, to graphite supports or to carbon matrix, carbon fiber-reinforced composite supports to produce assemblies suitable for use at high temperature in a vacuum environment where temperature cycling will be experienced and collectively would tend to result in undesirable chemical reactions, e.g. carbon diffusion from the support and formation of substantial metal carbide. Reaction-brazing of tungsten or molybdenum metal bodies to carbonaceous supports enables an x-ray generating anode to be joined to a preferred lightweight substrate. Complementary surfaces are provided on a dense refractory metal body and a graphite or a carbon-carbon composite support. A particulate braze mixture comprising Hf or Zr carbide, Mo or W boride, Hf or Zr powder and Mo or W powder is coated onto the support surface, and hafnium or zirconium foil may be introduced between the braze mixture and the refractory metal body complementary surface. Reaction-brazing is carried out at or near the eutectic point of the components, which may be influenced to some extent by the presence of carbon and boride. Heating to about 1865° C. for a Mo/Hf combination creates a thin, dense, strong braze that securely joins the two bodies and creates a thin barrier of carbide and boride microphases near and along the interface with the carbon support that diminishes carbon diffusion into the metal body during extended exposures at elevated temperatures (above those presently used in x-ray tubes), even well above the eutectoid temperature.