How does the "as-welded" condition of a joint differ from "as-brazed"?

The distinction between "as-welded" and "as-brazed" primarily lies in the processes used for joining materials. "As-welded" refers to a joint created through welding, a process where two metals are fused together by melting them at their interfaces, often with the addition of filler material, resulting in a strong bond due to the coalescence of the base materials. Conversely, "as-brazed" pertains to a joint formed through brazing, a process that involves joining metals by melting a filler material that has a lower melting point than that of the base metals, which do not melt.

Welding typically results in a joint that is often more robust and can retain the strength of the parent metals, while brazing is beneficial for joining dissimilar metals and usually has lower thermal input, which can reduce the risk of distortion or damage to sensitive components. The involvement of melting at the base material level distinguishes these two processes, thereby confirming the accuracy of the noted comparison.