Scientific ArticleTheeffectsof tack welding andincreasing surfacearea on thetensilestrengthofsilverelectric andflame solderedstainlesssteel jointsJohn A.Gawlik,DMD GregoryP. Mathieu,DDSSteven Hondrum,DDS,MSAbstractThepurposesofthis studywere:1)tocompare silversolderjointstrengthusing flameandelectricsolderingtechniques, and2)to determine theeffectoftack weldingandincreasing metal-to-metalcontact areapriortotackwelding, on the tensile strengthofsilver solder joints.Sixmethods:(flamesoldered;tackweldedandflamesoldered;increasedcontact area,tackwelded,andflamesoldered;electrosoldered;tackweldedandelectrosoldered;andin-creasedcontactarea,tackwelded,andelectrosoldered)wereusedto produce 15 solder jointsineach group.Thetensile strength ofthe joints were testedwith InstronUni-versalTestingMachineFlamesolderingresultedinjointswithsignificantlyhighertensilestrength(P