High-performance, high-quality customizable ceramic-to-metal seals

Overview of Ceramic metal seals

Ceramic metal seals are a kind of sealing technology that closely combines ceramic and metal materials. It utilizes the high hardness, high temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramics, combined with the toughness and ease of processing of metals, and is widely used in aerospace, electronics, and chemical industries. This sealing method through a special process, such as sintering, brazing, etc., so that the ceramic and metal at the interface form a solid connection, effectively preventing the leakage of gases or liquids, with good sealing performance and stability, to meet the sealing needs of harsh environments.

Features of Ceramic metal seals

Ceramic metal seals are an advanced sealing technology with many significant features.

 Excellent high temperature resistance: the ceramic material itself has a very high melting point, usually above 1500℃, even up to 2000℃, while the metal part can also withstand high temperatures. This combination makes the ceramic-metal seal still maintain good sealing performance in high-temperature environments, suitable for aerospace engines, high-temperature furnaces and other high-temperature working conditions.

Strong corrosion resistance: ceramics have strong corrosion resistance to acid, alkali, salt and other chemical media, while the metal part can be further enhanced by selecting suitable materials or coatings. Therefore, ceramic metal seals in the chemical, electronics and other industries excel, can effectively resist the erosion of corrosive media.

High strength and high hardness: ceramic materials have high hardness and good abrasion resistance, while the metal part provides sufficient toughness. This combination makes the seals remain stable and prolong their service life when subjected to high-pressure and high-abrasion working conditions.

Good airtightness: through advanced technology, such as sintering, brazing, etc., ceramic and metal form a tight bond with almost no micropores and gaps, which can effectively prevent the leakage of gases or liquids and meet the requirements of high-precision sealing.

Good stability: ceramic-metal seals have high dimensional stability and are not significantly affected by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, making them suitable for long-term stable operation in complex environments.

Strong customizability: according to different application scenarios and needs, we can select suitable ceramic and metal materials, adjust the seal structure and size, and realize personalized customization to meet the diversified needs of aerospace, electronics, chemical industry and other industries.

Specifications table of  Ceramic metal seals

Parameter	Description	Typical Values/Range
Material	Ceramic material used	Alumina (Al₂O₃), Zirconia (ZrO₂), Silicon Carbide (SiC)
	Metal material used	Stainless steel, Inconel, Titanium, Copper
Operating Temperature	Temperature range the seal can withstand	-200°C to +1500°C (depending on material)
Pressure Rating	Maximum pressure the seal can handle	Up to 100 MPa (depending on design and application)
Corrosion Resistance	Resistance to chemical attack	High resistance to acids, bases, and solvents (ceramic component)
Seal Integrity	Leak rate or helium leak test	< 1 x 10⁻⁸ Pa·m³/s (helium leak rate)
Mechanical Strength	Tensile, compressive, and shear strength	Varies widely based on material and design (e.g., tensile strength up to 300 MPa)
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	Coefficient of thermal expansion for ceramic and metal components	Ceramic: 5-10 x 10⁻⁶/K; Metal: 10-20 x 10⁻⁶/K
Surface Finish	Surface roughness of sealing surfaces	Ra < 0.8 µm (for optimal sealing performance)
Dimensional Tolerance	Precision of seal dimensions	±0.05 mm (typical machining tolerance)
Weight	Mass of the seal component	Varies based on size and material (e.g., 10 g to 10 kg)
Customization	Ability to tailor seal design to specific requirements	Yes, custom sizes, shapes, and materials available
Application Environment	Typical environments where the seal is used	Vacuum, high pressure, corrosive atmospheres, high temperatures
Certifications	Industry certifications and standards	ISO 9001, ASME, MIL-SPEC (depending on application)
Lead Time	Time required for production and delivery	2-6 weeks (standard parts); 6-12 weeks (custom designs)
Warranty	Manufacturer warranty period

Applications of  Ceramic metal seals

Ceramic metal seals have a wide range of applications in several fields due to their unique properties, and the following are some of the main application scenarios:

In the aerospace field, ceramic metal seals are widely used in engines, rocket propulsion systems and other key components. For example, the combustion chamber, turbine blades, and high-temperature pipelines of aviation engines need to withstand extremely high temperatures and pressures, and at the same time to prevent high-temperature gas leakage. Ceramic-metal seals can meet these harsh conditions, ensuring the efficient operation and safety of the engine.

In the electronics industry, ceramic metal seals are commonly used in the packaging of high-precision electronic components. For example, semiconductor chips, optoelectronic devices and other sealing requirements are extremely high; ceramic metal seals can prevent the entry of external gases, moisture, etc., to protect the chip from contamination and corrosion, thereby extending the service life of electronic components. At the same time, in some high-vacuum electronic equipment, such as electron beam welding machines, vacuum coating equipment, ceramic metal seals can maintain a stable vacuum environment to ensure the normal operation of the equipment.

The chemical industry involves a large number of corrosive media and a high temperature and pressure environment, and ceramic metal seals play an important role in chemical equipment. For example, in the reactor, pipeline connections and valves, and other parts, ceramic metal seals can effectively prevent acid, alkali, salt and other chemical media leakage, to avoid corrosion and pollution of equipment and the environment. In addition, in some high-temperature chemical reactions, ceramic metal seals can withstand the double test of high temperature and high pressure, to ensure the smooth progress of the reaction process.

In automobile manufacturing, ceramic metal seals are also gradually applied. For example, in the engine air intake system, fuel injection system, and exhaust gas treatment system, ceramic metal seals can effectively prevent gas leakage and exhaust gas purification effect.

In medical devices, ceramic metal seals also play an important role. For example, in some implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, artificial joints, etc., ceramic metal seals can prevent the human body tissue fluid into the device, while preventing the device inside the electronic components or materials on the human body to cause adverse effects. In addition, in some high-precision medical testing equipment, ceramic metal seals can ensure the stability and reliability of the equipment and improve the accuracy of the test results.

In addition to the above fields, ceramic metal seals also have a wide range of applications in the energy, marine engineering, food processing and other industries. For example, in the field of nuclear energy, ceramic metal seals can effectively prevent the leakage of radioactive substances; in ocean engineering, ceramic metal seals can withstand the corrosion of seawater and high-pressure environments; in food processing equipment, ceramic metal seals can ensure food safety and hygiene.

Company Profile

RBOSCHCO is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12 years of experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials. The company exports to many countries, such as the USA, Canada, Europe, UAE, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Turkey, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dubai, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal etc. As a leading nanotechnology development manufacturer, RBOSCHCO dominates the market. Our professional work team provides perfect solutions to help improve the efficiency of various industries, create value, and easily cope with various challenges. If you are interested, please send an email to sales1@rboschco.com

Payment Term

T/T, Western Union, Paypal, Credit Card etc.

Shipment Term

By air, by sea, by express, as customers request.

5 FAQs of  Ceramic Metal Seals

Q1: What is the principle of the ceramic-to-metal seal?

Ceramic-to-metal sealing is achieved by coating the ceramic surface with a layer of metal powder to form a uniform, dense, weldable layer, and then sintering at a high temperature to form a strong metallurgical bond between the two. After sintering, the ceramic parts are connected to the metal parts by welding (e.g., vacuum welding) to form a whole, thus realizing the ceramic-metal seal.

Q2: What is the difference between ceramic-to-metal and glass-to-metal seals?

Glass-to-metal seals rely primarily on the chemical bonding of the glass to the oxide film on the metal surface, whereas ceramic-to-metal seals are sintered by coating the ceramic surface with metal powder to form a weldable layer that is then welded to the metal. Compared with glass metal seals, ceramic metal seals have better high temperature and corrosion resistance, and higher mechanical strength, but its processing difficulty and cost is relatively high.

Q3: Are ceramic-to-metal seals costly to produce?

The production cost of ceramic metal seals is relatively high. This is mainly because of the high cost of ceramic and metal materials themselves, while the production process involves complex processes such as high-temperature sintering, precision machining and strict quality testing, and higher requirements for equipment and production environment, which further increases the production cost.

Q4: How to improve the airtightness of ceramic-to-metal seals?

It is necessary to select suitable ceramic and metal materials, optimize the seal structure design, improve the quality and uniformity of the metallization layer, ensure the quality of welding, and at the same time, strictly control the machining accuracy and surface roughness during the production process, and finally test the airtightness of the product by helium mass spectrometry leakage detection and other advanced testing equipment.

Q5: What are the precautions for making ceramic-metal seals?

Selection of suitable ceramic and metal materials, and according to the sealing requirements, to determine a reasonable sealing structure and size. Strictly control the processing precision and surface quality to ensure the uniformity and denseness of the metallized layer. In the welding process, welding parameters need to be precisely controlled to prevent welding defects. At the same time, airtightness testing and other quality inspections should be carried out to ensure the reliability of the seals.