A braze material (10) including nano-sized filler material particles (14).
The nano-sized particles will melt at a temperature significantly lower
than the micron-sized particles used in prior art braze materials,
thereby eliminating or reducing the need for the addition of temperature
depressant materials such as boron or silicon. The resulting braze joint
is substantially free of detrimental boride and suicides phases, thereby
improving the material properties of the joint, eliminating the need for
a separate post-braze diffusion heat treatment, and permitting a
subsequent welding operation with reduced risk of cracking. The braze
heat treatment may also function as a solution heat treatment, a pre-weld
heat treatment or a post-weld heat treatment.