Cryogenic glass-to-metal seal
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorMark O. Landram
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel low temperature vacuum seal and method of making same for joining a nonmetallic element, such as an optical port, to a metallic element is described which comprises first and second thin metallic layers applied to the nonmetallic element to provide substantial adhesion and solderability to the nonmetallic element, and a third metallic layer applied to the metallic element to provide solderability to the metallic element, the nonmetallic and metallic elements being joined by a layer of low temperature solder interfacing their respective solder surfaces. A further thin metallic layer may be applied to the nonmetallic element to provide substantial wetability to the solderable second layer.
Claims11
A method for sealing an optical material selected from the group consisting of silica, glass, quartz, and semiconductor material to an element of metal or alloy to provide a low temperature vacuum seal therebetween, comprising:
- (a) applying a first thin layer of metal on said optical material to provide substantial adhesion to said optical material, said first layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, copper, zinc, and tin;
- (b) applying a second thin layer of metal on said optical material over said first layer to provide solderability to said optical material, said second layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of platinum, nickel and copper;
- (c) applying a third layer of metal on said element of metal or alloy in registration with said first and second layers to provide solderability to said element, said third layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, copper, zinc and tin;
- (d) soldering said optical material with said first and second layers thereon to said element of metal or alloy with said third layer thereon at the interface of said second and third layers, and;
- (e) wherein adjacent layers, including said element of metal or alloy, consist essentially of different materials.
A method for sealing an optical material selected from the group consisting of silica, glass, quartz, and semiconductor material to an element of metal or alloy to provide a low temperature vacuum seal therebetween, comprising:
- (a) applying a first thin layer of titanium on said optical material to provide substantial adhesion to said optical material;
- (b) applying a second thin layer of platinum on said optical material over said first layer to provide solderability to said optical material;
- (c) applying a third thin layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc and tin on said element in registration with said first and second layers to provide solderability to said element;
- and,
- (d) applying a layer of indium solder between said optical material and element and interfacing said lastly applied layer on said optical material and the third layer on said element.
A method for sealing an optical material selected from the group consisting of silica, glass, quartz, and semiconductor material to an element of metal or alloy to provide a low temperature vacuum seal therebetween, comprising:
- (a) applying a first thin layer of metal on said optical material to provide substantial adhesion to said optical material, said first layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, copper, zinc and tin;
- (b) applying a second thin layer of metal on said optical material over said first layer to provide solderability to said optical material, said second layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of nickel and copper;
- (c) applying a third layer of metal on said element of metal or alloy in registration with said first and second layers to provide solderability to said element, said third layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, copper, zinc and tin;
- (d) soldering said optical material with said first and second layers thereon to said element of metal or alloy with said third layer thereon at the interface of said second and third layers;
- and,
- (e) wherein adjacent layers, including said element of metal or alloy, consist essentially of different materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.