ISO 5187:1985

Overview

ISO 5187:1985 - "Welding and allied processes - Assemblies made with soft solders and brazing filler metals - Mechanical test methods" defines standardized mechanical test procedures for assemblies produced by soft soldering and brazing. It sets out test specimen types, preparation, heating and joint conditions, test execution and result interpretation so that conventional mechanical characteristics (instantaneous shear/tensile strength, hot strength and creep behaviour) of soldered and brazed joints can be determined reproducibly.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Applies to joining materials and fluxes used for soldering and brazing of ferrous and non‑ferrous metals and alloys.
• Test types: Instantaneous shear and tensile tests (cold and hot) and creep shear tests to establish strength vs. temperature and strength vs. time curves.
• Specimens & fixtures: Standard specimen geometries are specified (end‑to‑end tensile and fitted shear assemblies) with recommended jigs/fixtures to avoid parasitic bending.
• Surface preparation & flux: Surfaces must be clean and free from oxides, oil or paint; the flux characteristics and cleaning method must be recorded.
• Heating & brazing conditions: Guidance on heating cycles (e.g., target heating times to reach melting, short hold at joining temperature, and recommended maintenance time at brazing temperature) to promote reproducible joints.
• Number of tests: Typical sampling is five specimens for ambient/cold strength and five to ten for creep/temperature‑dependent curves.
• Result expression & reporting: Joint strength reported in MPa (fracture load divided by joint area); test report must record base metal, joint clearance, flux, heating conditions and fracture surface observations.
• Statistical interpretation: Procedures for calculating mean, standard deviation and acceptance criteria are provided to support reproducible classification of joining materials.

Applications

• Characterizing mechanical performance of soldered or brazed assemblies in product development, quality control and failure analysis.
• Comparing filler metals, fluxes and joint processes for electronics, HVAC, automotive, aerospace, and general metal fabrication where soft solders or brazing filler metals are used.
• Generating strength vs. temperature and creep life data to support design and service‑temperature limits.

Who should use this standard

• Welding and brazing engineers, materials and quality assurance specialists, test laboratories, and R&D teams evaluating solder and brazing processes or qualifying filler metals and fluxes.

Related standards

• Prepared by ISO/TC 44 (Welding and allied processes). ISO 5187:1985 cancels and replaces ISO 3683:1978 for the broader scope of mechanical test methods for soldered and brazed assemblies.

Keywords: ISO 5187:1985, welding, brazing, soldering, mechanical test methods, shear test, tensile test, creep test, filler metal, flux, brazed joints.