What is the difference between welding and brazing?

The distinction between welding and brazing largely centers around the process employed and the state of the base metal. In welding, the base metals being joined are heated to their melting point, allowing them to fuse together as they cool and solidify. This results in a strong joint because the pieces become one cohesive unit.

In contrast, brazing involves joining metals by melting a filler material that has a lower melting point than the base metals themselves. The base metals do not melt during the brazing process; they remain solid. Instead, the molten filler metal is drawn into the joint by capillary action, creating a bond. This fundamental difference in temperature and the state of the base materials during the joining process is what makes the first choice the correct answer.

The other options do not accurately capture the key differences between welding and brazing. For example, brazing actually involves lower temperatures when compared to welding, which makes the statement about brazing using higher temperatures incorrect. Welding is versatile and can be applied to a range of materials, not just metals, hence suggesting welding can only be done on metals is misleading. Lastly, while brazing commonly employs filler metal, stating that it requires no filler metal is inaccurate, as the filler is integral to the brazing