Abstract: First and second aluminum members are joined by the steps of(a) dissolving and removing completely the aluminum oxide layer from the surface of each of said first and second members to be joined and replacing each of the aluminum oxide layers with a layer consisting essentially of zinc;(b) plating at least one of the zinc layers with a non-alloy cadmium;(c) assembling and retaining together said first and second aluminum members so that the surfaces to be joined are held in contact with one another and placing said aluminum members in a vacuum; and(d) heating the members while in the vacuum thereby forming a bond between said first and second aluminum members.

Abstract: First and second aluminum members are joined by the steps of(a) dissolving and removing completely the aluminum oxide layer from the surface of each of the first and second members to be joined and replacing each of the aluminum oxide layers with a layer consisting essentially of zinc;(b) plating at least one of the zinc layers with a non-alloy cadmium;(c) assembling and retaining together the first and second aluminum members so that the surfaces to be joined are held in contact with one another and placing the aluminum members in a vacuum; and(d) heating the members while in the vacuum thereby forming a bond between the first and second aluminum members.

Abstract: A process for joining first and second aluminum sheets in which the bonding surfaces of the aluminum sheets have their aluminum oxide layer replaced by a zinc layer and the zinc layers are plated with a non-alloy metal bonding material such as cadmium. The first and second aluminum sheets are then assembled and fastened together with an engaging means for holding the sheets together, and then the assembled sheets are placed in a vacuum. The sheets are subsequently heated in the vacuum thereby creating a bond of cadmium between them, removed from the vacuum, and then passivated.