Test Results on Sealing in
Options A & E
Dean Walters
Argonne National Laboratory
Michael Minot
MinoTech Engineering Inc.
Joining and Assembly

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

Design Configurations
Assembly Process
Materials
Joining methods
Results on Joining
Status of joining
Future Work
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Mechanical Configurations of the Photo-detector
 Option A
– Borosilicate tray
– Borosilicate window
– Glass to glass seal
– Base anode pins
 Option B
– Borosilicate tray
– Quartz window
– Pre-fab Kovar edge parts
– Kovar to Kovar seal
– Base anode pins
 Option C
– Kovar tray
– Quartz or glass window
– Pre-fab Kovar edge seal
– Side pins in glass ‘header’
 Option D
– Ceramic tray
 Option E
– Borosilicate base plate
– Borosilicate side walls
– Borosilicate window
– Pass-thru anode strip lines
– Frit sealing base plate to side walls
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Design configurations
 Option A
From R. Northrop
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Design configurations
 Option C
–
–
–
–
Kovar tray
Quartz or glass window
Pre-fab Kovar edge seal
Side pins in glass ‘header’
From R. Northrop
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Design Configurations
 Option E
From R. Northrop
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Design Configurations
 Option E
From R. Northrop
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Proposed Assembly Process
 Option A
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Proposed Assembly Process
 Option E
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Materials
 Glass
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Materials
 Borosilicate – Borofloat 33
From Schott Literature
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Materials
 Kovar
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Materials
 Alumina
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Joining Methods
 Glass to glass joints
– Frit glass joints
– Laser sealing
– Soldering
– Anodic Bonding
 Glass to metal joints
– Anodic Bonding
– Soldering
– Powdered Glass
 Metal to metal joints
– Brazing
– Soldering
– Welding
• Electron beam welding
• Laser welding
• TIG welding
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Joining Methods
 First Trials on Lime Frit on Soda Glass
From R. Northrop
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Joining Methods
 Glass Frit Sealing
– Used for Glass to Glass seals
– Large variety of commercial frits
• Ability to modify to fit various applications
– Example of frit in Results Section
 Anodic Bonding
– Voltage/Temperature
• Temperature lower than glass softening temperature by 200 C or less
– Kovar to Glass Seals
– Glass to Glass Seals
From G. Wallis JAP 1969
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Laser Joining & Welding
 Nuclear Engineering Building 308
 CO2 Laser
– Vendor: Iowa Laser
The 1.6 kW pulsed Nd:YAG laser
Facility also contains CO2 Laser
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Joining Methods
 Soldering
– UC-Davis Method
• D. Ferenc Talk July 2009
– ANL
• 50/50 Indium Tin alloy MP= 130 C
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Joining Methods
 E Beam Welding
– Central Shops Building 363
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Joining Methods
 TIG Welding
– APS Vacuum Shop
• Building 382
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Joining Methods
 Hydrogen and Vacuum Brazing
– Central Shops Building 363
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Results
 First Trials on Lime Frit on Soda Glass
Set up Conditions: Fused at 1500 F for 5 minutes
Trial on 31 August 2009 by M. Minot
Sample parts are 1.5” on long edge & .25” thick
The bubbles shown here are a result of the outgassing of the frit
components. It is concluded that with a better Frit glass combination
will mitigate the situation
In spite of lack of match between the frit & glass the parts are well
adhered to each other.
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Results on Joining
Trial by M. Minot of MinoTech Engr
#1 (left) and #3 (on the right) using Vitta Frit G-1017 Glass Transfer Tape (Frit with Adhesive)
This Frit is specifically designed for sealing and joining Pyrex parts, hence my application to
BoroFloat (same CTE, near identical / equivalent composition). In Trials #1, the frit tape was
sandwiched between two pieces of Borofloat and fired, without providing an opportunity to burn
off adhesive, hence the dark (carbon) color. Trial #2 was to evaluate firing cycles to burn of
adhesive. Trial #3 shows the sandwich assembled after first burning off adhesive. Good bond
was achieved. Green opaque color is result of the composition of G-1017 which includes PbZn-Borosilicate glass. I think the green color is from Zinc Oxides.
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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Status of joining
 The G1017 samples are going to be sectioned to determine if there is
evidence of bubbles in the joint.
 Glass will be obtained to be used as samples in testing at Minotech and
ANL
 Materials are on order for frit trials using d410 frit from Asahi Glass (AGC)
with Schott B270 glass coupons. This frit is proven hermetic based on
prior application to plasma display technology.
Future Work
 M. Minot is working on obtaining a number of candidate frits for testing in
the MinoTech Engineering lab.
 All future trials will also include application over metallized anode strip
lines to demonstrate ability to make conductive pass through.
 Full scale trials will also be done using extensive Incom furnace capability
 An agreement is being established with Brigitflex of Elgin, Illinois to use
their furnace for frit trials by ANL personnel.
 Schott Glass has become interested in this project and they have
considerable experience in glass product manufacturing and processing.
D. Walters - drw@anl.gov
16 October 2009
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