An area of increasing interest is active metal brazing, which allows metal to be bonded directly to ceramic without metallization, thereby eliminating several steps in the joining process and creating an extremely strong, hermetic seal that can reach higher operating temperatures. Aerospace applications include nozzles for aerospace and industrial turbine engines, new turbine vane systems and engine sensor components.
Active metal brazing can be performed with any combination of ceramics, carbon, graphite, metals and diamond. Active braze alloys (ABAs) are used for engine sensors that employ metal-to-ceramic strips to monitor engine functions. Brazing is done with a high temperature ABA so the sensor can withstand 1000°C (1830°F) in service.
Active metal brazing facilitates the joining of some materials and components that could never before be accomplished, and is especially beneficial in military and aerospace applications.
 National Aeronautics and Space Administration, http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/aturbf.html, retrieved October 6, 2011
About the author:
Tom Sandin is Morgan Technical Ceramics Wesgo Metals brazing Product Manager
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