Abstract: Articles of aluminum, or of an aluminum alloy, can be brazed satisfactorily, employing an aluminum alloy as the brazing material, by removing any surface oxide layers from bodies comprising the articles, and preforms of the brazing material, simultaneously with providing initial films of zinc, or tin, thereon. Then coatings of silver and/or of gold, or a suitable alloy containing silver or gold, are provided on the articles, and on the preforms of the brazing material, to protect the surfaces of these aluminum containing bodies from reoxidizing. The required brazing operation then is performed in a high vacuum, or in an inert atmosphere. Any oxygen produced inadvertently, for example, by the decomposition of any silver oxide present, is removed before it can contact any aluminum. The zinc or tin, the materials of the coatings, and the aluminum of the bodies, interdiffuse, and this interdiffusion proceeds rapidly when the brazing alloy melts.

Abstract: A seal between two ceramic articles, or between a ceramic article and a metal article, is formed by providing a sealing member comprising an aluminum body, and a film of zinc or tin being deposited threon, with the inevitable aluminum oxide surface film removed, and subsequently a coating of silver and/or gold, or a suitable alloy containing silver or gold, being provided. The sealing member is positioned between the articles, and the bonding operation comprises heating the assembly in an inert atmosphere, or in a high vacuum, to melt the composite sealing member, there being obviated the need to apply pressure during the bonding operation. Any oxide film on silver readily decomposes at a temperature of, at most, 250.degree. C. No oxide film is formed on gold. The zinc or tin film, and the coating, are readily absorbed into the molten aluminum produced during the bonding operation. Subsequently, the bonded assembly is out-gassed at a temperature up to 600.degree. C.