Metallic compositions useful for brazing, and related processes and devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016354869-A1
Application number	US-201615236979-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 15, 2016
Priority date	May 25, 2012
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A braze alloy composition is disclosed, containing nickel, about 5% to about 40% of at least one refractory metal selected from niobium, tantalum, or molybdenum; about 2% to about 32% chromium; and about 0.5% to about 10% of at least one active metal element. An electrochemical cell that includes two components joined to each other by such a braze composition is also described. A method for joining components such as those within an electrochemical cell is also described. The method includes the step of introducing a braze alloy composition between a first component and a second component to be joined, to form a brazing structure. In many instances, one component is formed of a ceramic, while the other is formed of a metal or metal alloy.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A high-temperature thermal battery based on sodium metal halide or sodium sulfur, comprising a sealing region that includes at least one metal component and at least one ceramic component that are joined together by an active braze seal, wherein the seal is formed of a braze alloy composition that comprises
a) about 45% to about 70% nickel; b) about 5% to about 40% of at least one refractory metal selected from niobium, tantalum, or molybdenum. c) about 2% to about 32% chromium; and d) about 0.5% to about 10% (total) of at least one active metal element selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, and vanadium; based on the weight of the composition.

2 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 1 , wherein the metal component is a ring, and the ceramic component is a collar, brazed to the ring.

3 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 2 , further comprising a second ring in the sealing region, brazed to another portion of the collar.

4 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 2 , wherein the metal ring comprises nickel; and the collar comprises alpha-alumina.

5 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 1 , wherein the sealing region includes a reaction layer at the interface of the braze alloy and the ceramic component.

6 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 5 , wherein the reaction layer has a thickness of less than about 10 microns.

7 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 1 , wherein at least about 50%, by weight, of the refractory metal composition of component (b) is niobium.

8 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 7 , wherein all of the refractory metal composition of component (b) is niobium.

9 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 1 , wherein the refractory metal is niobium, present in the braze alloy composition at a level of about 10% to about 40%, by weight.

10 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 1 , wherein the braze alloy composition comprises about 50% to about 70% nickel.

11 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 1 , wherein the braze alloy composition has a liquidus temperature of less than about 1250° C.

12 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 1 , wherein the braze alloy composition is substantially free of iron.

13 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 1 , wherein the braze alloy composition further comprises aluminum, at a level less than about 5% by weight.

14 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 1 , wherein the active metal element is present at a level in the range of about 0.5% by weight to about 5% by weight.

15 . The high-temperature thermal battery of claim 1 , wherein the active metal element is present at a level in the range of about 1% by weight to about 5% by weight.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Kumar Sundeep
• Adharapurapu Raghavendra Rao
• Rahmane Mohamed

Classifications

• H01M50/191

  Inorganic material · CPC title

• H01M50/186

  characterised by the disposition of the sealing members · CPC title

• C22C19/05

  with chromium · CPC title

• H01M10/02

  Details (of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00) · CPC title

• B23K35/304 Primary

  with Cr as the next major constituent · CPC title