The Matweld M15 (Product Code: M016 / MAN0260) is a versatile, un-fluxed bronze brazing rod designed for high-strength joining and bronze welding. These 3.0mm rods are a standard in South African workshops for heavy-duty repairs on steel, cast iron, and copper alloys where a strong, ductile bond is required.
Technical Specifications
- Diameter: 3.0mm.
- Product Code: M016 (Pre-pack code: MAN0260).
- Core Material: Manganese Bronze (Low Fuming).
- Working Temperature: Approximately 900°C.
- Pack Quantity: Typically sold in packs of 6 rods (Pre-pack) or by the 1kg box.
- Length: ~500mm to 540mm.
Key Performance Features
- Multi-Metal Compatibility: Excellent for joining dissimilar metals, such as steel to cast iron or copper to steel.
- Low Fuming: Specifically alloyed to minimize the release of zinc fumes during the brazing process, making it safer and easier to use than standard brass rods.
- High Tensile Strength: Produces a deposit with excellent mechanical properties, often reaching a tensile strength of 440 MPa, which is comparable to many mild steels.
- Machinability: The deposited bronze is tough yet ductile, allowing it to be easily ground, filed, or machined to a smooth finish after the joint has cooled.
- Wear Resistance: Due to its hardness, it is frequently used for "building up" worn surfaces on gears, shafts, and bearing housings.
Common Applications
- Automotive: Repairing exhaust manifolds, body panels, and tubular chassis components.
- Agriculture: Fixing cracked cast iron implement housings and building up worn wear plates on machinery.
- General Fabrication: Creating strong joints in galvanised iron structures (as the lower brazing temperature minimizes damage to the zinc coating).
- HVAC & Plumbing: Joining heavy-gauge copper piping and bronze valves.
Usage & Professional Tips
- Universal Brazing Flux is Mandatory: These are bare (un-fluxed) rods. You must use a dedicated brazing flux (like Matweld M014 Brazing Flux). Heat the end of the rod and dip it into the flux powder before applying it to the joint.
- Oxy-Acetylene Flame: Use a neutral or slightly oxidizing flame. An oxidizing flame helps to minimize the vaporization of zinc, which prevents porosity in the weld bead.
- Surface Preparation: Clean the parent metal until it is bright and shiny. Any grease, rust, or scale will prevent the bronze from "tinning" (wetting) the surface properly.
- Tinning: Always "tin" the surface of the metal first by applying a thin layer of bronze before building up the full bead. If the bronze "balls up," the metal is either not hot enough or not clean enough.
