Welding dissimilar metal microwires by Joule heating

In this paper we report on the Joule heat welding of dissimilar metal microwires. The current required for successful welding was investigated. Various combinations of 25μm diameter Cu, Au and Al microwires were welded together using this technique. The welded dissimilar metal wire systems were then cut by supplying a higher current, and it was found that the position at which the wires cut was not at the midpoint, i.e., the position of the weld, of the wire system. This is because the temperature distributions formed in the dissimilar metal systems were asymmetrical. The positions at which the wires cut were in good agreement with those predicted by a heat conduction model. The lower limit for successful welding of the dissimilar metal microwire system was found to be determined by the lower of the two currents required to cut microwires of the individual materials.