Mechanical and heat transfer properties of AlN/Cu joints based on nanosecond laser-induced metallization

In this paper, AlN ceramic was directly joined to copper without active brazing filler metal. By exerting the nanosecond laser irradiation on the AlN surface, the AlN ceramic was thermally decomposed to aluminum and the surface was metalized. The as-metalized AlN ceramic was successfully joined to copper through the eutectic reaction between aluminum and copper. The effect of the groove interface structure fabricated with various laser scanning speeds on the mechanical and heat transfer properties of AlN/Cu joints was investigated. The joints obtained optimal shear strength and thermal diffusivity of 10.64 MPa and 51.75 mm²/s at the scanning speed of 250 mm/s. The micro groove structures of the interface contributed to the enhancement of mechanical and heat transfer properties of joints. The approach of laser-irradiation assisted joining proposed in this paper provided a novel thought for the fabrication of metal/ceramic composite structures.