Frequently Asked Questions: Ceramic to Metal Seals

Q: What are the advantages of a ceramic to metal seal over that of a glass to metal seal?

A: Ceramic to metal seals are a more robust, durable seal than glass seals. Properly designed ceramic to metal seals are able to maintain their hermeticity in a variety of harsh environments such as high and low (cryogenic) temp., corrosive, high pressure, and high vacuum.

Q: What types of ceramics do you use?

A: Mainly 95% alumina (A950, AL-500), 97.6% (AL-300), 99.5% (AL-995) and 100% (sapphire, rubies). We also work with Aluminum Nitride (AlN), Zirconia, Silicon Carbide, and Silicon Nitride.

Q: Do you produce your own ceramics?

A: Yes. We produce the A950 95% Alumina ceramic. Other ceramics we typically procure through our sister companies Wesgo Ceramics.

Q: What are the mechanical and electrical properties of your A950?

A: Please click here for a chart detailing the properties of Alberox's A950.

Q: What are some common metals you use in your assemblies?

A: Copper and Cu alloys (CuNi), Nickel and Ni alloys (Monel, Alumel), NiFe alloys and Kovar (NiFeCo), Molybdenum, Niobium, Tungsten, Tantalum, Platinum, Titanium, 400 Series SST (410, 430), and 300 Series SST (304, 316, 321).

Q: What types of metalizing do you use?

A: We use both powder refractory metal and thin film sputtered metalizing, depending on the application. The refractory metal metalizing is mainly Mo/Mn and we sputter biocompatible metals.

Q: Do you produce your own metalizing inks?

A: Yes. We have a complete laboratory that develops and controls our propitiatory metalizing ink formulations.

Q: What are some typical Braze Alloys?

A: At Alberox, we commonly use Copper, Gold, Gold-Copper alloys, Silver, Silver-Copper alloys, and some Active Braze Alloys (ABA).

Q: Do you produce your own Braze Alloys?

A: No. These are purchased. Many are made by our sister company Wesgo Metals.

Q: Are your ceramic to metal seals hermetic?

A: Yes. We leak check all our assemblies to 5x10-9 cc/sec. Helium, which is an industry standard. We also make some mechanical assemblies, which do not have hermeticity requirements.

Q: Do you produce any products that can be implanted?

A: Yes. We have a Business Unit, dedicated to the medical market that produces, among other things, quality, hermetic, biocompatible feedthroughs.

Q: Do you have a catalogue?

A: No. Most all of Alberox's products are built to customers' designs. We do have a line of High Voltage Bushings in some standard sizes that are available for quick turn around.

Q: Who is Morgan Advanced Ceramics?

A: Morgan Advanced Ceramics (MAC) is a world-leading supplier of ceramic components and assemblies to the medical, telecommunications, semiconductor and aerospace markets. The company utilizes its innovative application engineering expertise to provide ceramic solutions for customer problems. Morgan acquired Alberox in 1989.