SAN DIEGO—What do you do when a design requires the strength and thermal stability of a single ceramic component, but the size or complexity of the application prevents the use of a monolithic ceramic part? Technical ceramics manufacturer CoorsTek, Inc., and its R&D subsidiary, Ceramatec, Inc., have developed a technology that they say enables the use of thermo-mechanically stable ceramic assemblies in cases where monolithic ceramic is impossible to use. The companies recently introduced a new silicon carbide joining technology that reportedly improves the strength and thermal stability of assemblies of ceramic components, rivaling the strength of monolithic components while exceeding the performance of traditional brazes, adhesives, and bolt-together joining assemblies.

According to the companies, the new joining technology enables the manufacture of multi-component ceramic arrays into reliable, high-strength systems. Testing is said to have shown that the joints retain strength and hermeticity even when exposed to high temperatures, thermal cycling, and various chemical environments. Metrology, precision optics, focal plane arrays, and wafer handling industries are among the current applications.

"Some designs are simply too large, complex, or expensive to produce a monolithic silicon carbide component," said Merrill Wilson, senior engineer at Ceramatec, Inc., in a statement. "This new joining technology essentially overcomes this barrier and enables manufacturing of critical-duty components."

CoorsTek (www.coorstek.com) claims to be the largest technical ceramics manufacturer in the world with over 40 manufacturing facilities worldwide. The company supplies critical components and complete assemblies for armor, oil and gas, semiconductor, aerospace, and electronic applications, as well as power generation, aerospace, automotive, telecommunication, and other high-technology applications. CoorsTek's subsidiary, Ceramatec (www.ceramatec.com), offers engineering solutions through the use of advanced, hybrid ceramic materials.