Abstract:Reliable zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) composite ceramic/GH3536 nickel-based alloy brazing joints were fabricated using AgCuAlTi filler. The effects of brazing temperature and holding time on the interfacial microstructure and shear strength of the brazing joints were investigated. The typical interfacial structure of the joint brazed at 980 ℃ for 10 min is ZTA/TiO+Ti3(Cu,Al,Ni)3O/Ag(s,s)+Cu(s,s)/AlNi2Ti+Ti2Ni/Fe-Cr+Ni-Fe-Cr/GH3536. The two components of Al2O3 and ZrO2 in the ceramic matrix participate in the interfacial reactions together. Ti3Cu3O is formed by Al2O3 with Ti and Cu in the liquid filler and ZrO2 reacts with Ti and Cu to form TiO and Ti3Cu3O. Ti3(Cu,Al,Ni)3O is formed through the solid-solution of Al and Ni into Ti3Cu3O. With the increase in brazing temperature (940–980 ℃) and holding time (1–10 min), TiO, Ti3(Cu,Al,Ni)3O and AlNi2Ti layers are thickened, and the joint brazed at 980 ℃ for 10 min has the maximum shear strength of 123 MPa. When the brazing temperature exceeds 980 ℃ or holding time is longer than 10 min, TiO on the ceramic side is converted to Ti3(Cu,Al,Ni)3O. Meanwhile, a large amount of generated AlNi2Ti excessively consumes Ti in the filler, thereby hindering the generation of Ti3(Cu,Al,Ni)3O. So the Ti3(Cu,Al,Ni)3O layer is no longer continuous, which ultimately degrades the shear strength of the joint.