Laser Beam Joining of Non-Oxidic Ceramics for Ultra-High Temperature Resistant Joints

From the technological point of view as well as under the aspect of increasing safety requirements high-temperature resistant materials gain increasing importance. In this field high-tech ceramics such as silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon nitrite (Si3N4) play an outstanding role. However, their application used to be limited by the lack of a really suitable joining technology for high-temperature applications. At the Dresden University of Technology an innovative laser beam joining technology for these ceramics has been developed in a joint project over the last few years. This technology makes it possible to join SiC as well as Si3N4 ceramics with high-temperature resistant, vacuum-tight seams that are resistant to most chemical substances. As no protective atmosphere is needed and the joining process takes less than a minute, the complete joining process can be configured very efficiently in economic terms.