Ceramic-metal joints processing

Such excellent or at least adequate capillary behaviour is also typical of the process variant known as eutectic bonding in which the transient creation of a liquid phase is caused by the interdiffusion of two chemically different metal alloy component materials. In the laboratory variant process known as partial transient liquid phase bonding, (Shalz et al. 1992), a coated interlayer is used for ceramic-ceramic or ceramic-metal joints. In this process the interlayer is a ductile metal or alloy whose surface is coated with a thin layer of a lower melting temperature metal or alloy, for example Ni-20Cr coated with 2 microns of Au. The bonding temperature is chosen so that only the coating melts and the ductility of the interlayer helps to accommodate mismatches in the coefficient of thermal expansion of the component materials. 

Lanxide A process for making composites of metals with oxides. A molten metal reacts with an adjacent oxidant and is progressively drawn through its own oxidation product so as to yield a ceramic/metal composite. Fibres or other reinforcing materials can be placed in the path of the oxidation reaction and so incorporated in the final product. The Lanxide Corporation was founded in 1983 in Newark, DE, to exploit this invention. In 1990 it formed a joint venture with Du Pont to make electronic components by this process. Variations are Dimox (directed metal oxidation), for making ceramic metal composites, and Primex (pressureless infiltration by metal), for making metal matrix composites. 

Dead end tube configuration, in which only one end of the membrane tube is connected and the other end is closed [14], seems favourable since it needs one ceramic to metal joint less than two-side connected tubes. A drawback of this option is the large force that will act upon the dead end side of the membrane when the process works with a considerable pressure drop as in this application. These aspects show that it is important to realise for which application the membranes are being developed and to consider scaling up in an early stage. 

By definition, a structural bond involves the formation of a load-bearing joint between high-strength materials, typically metal, wood, ceramic, and certain plastics. The first step in the selection of a joining method should be a comparison of the relative merits of the available techniques.In addition to structural adhesives, these include a number of mechanical fastening methods, such as screws, bolts, nails, staples, and rivets, as well as metal fusion processes. Many of these techniques are usually associated with the joining of metal structures. 

Many kinds of artificial hip joints are available commercially, but they all consist of the same parts, i.e. a metal stem or shaft, usually made of a titanium alloy and a ceramic head of aluminium or zirconium oxide. The production of the ceramic head starts with a powder and ends with the sintering process. The heat treatment will cause the head to shrink. After production, the head is thoroughly tested, e.g. on its spherical shape and surface roughness. 

Abstract Wear processes are discussed for polymers used in a wide variety of implants in the human body, such as in joint replacement implants for the hip and knee. The articulation of metal or ceramic components against a polymer component can lead to the generation of wear debris and the effect this debris may have in the body is examined. 

Wear is defined as the loss of material from a surface as the result of relative motion. In this chapter, the wear processes in polymer implants are discussed. Polymers are used in a wide variety of implants in the human body such as joint replacement implants, pacemakers, catheters and heart valves. Wear of polymer implants is almost exclusive to joint replacement implants, such as those used to replace the hip or knee. These implants involve the articulation of a metal or ceramic against a polymer. Typically these implants operate with a mixed or boundary lubrication regime and, therefore, there is contact between the bearing surfaces that can lead to the generation of wear debris. The chapter is divided into sections that cover implants, wear processes, polymers used in implants, the effect of wear debris on the body and, finally, likely future trends. 

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