Nanotech Foils Aid Metal-to-Ceramic Joining

mekkab writes "No longer promising commercial applications "in the future", Reactive NanoTechnologies has new nano-tech that they are actually selling a foil of alternating layers of atoms to join dissimilar materials. This joining method is unique in that the foil provides all the energy needed to melt the solder or braze, eliminating the need to heat the components with a furnace, torch, or laser. This simplifies and speeds the joining process, in many cases cutting the cost of joints in half or possibly more. The Baltimore company believes that a sheet of foil, made of alternating layers of aluminum and nickel only a few atoms thick, can revolutionize the manufacture of everything from computer chips to airline engine components."

Comments

typical press release?

[b_pretender]

from the website:

RNT believes its reactive foil joining methods can overcome current technical hurdles facing manufacturers today. Thermal mismatch in metal-to-ceramic joints, thermal damage to microelectronics, long cycle times in furnaces, and poor electrical conduction across joints are all technical limitations for which reactive joining provides a superior solution. Scientists at RNT have over twenty years experience in reactive foil joining and are continually developing new applications for reactive foils.

The above claim seems more like nonsense than anything. I guess this is typical for a company's press release. My problems with it are as follows:

The reactive layer has nothing to do with thermal mismatch between the two dissimilar materials. The materials themselves cause the thermal mismatch. Sometimes, interlayers can diffuse into the joined materials, effectively spreading the stresses of a thermal mismatch over a larger area rather then concentrating them at the joint. Again, this method does *nothing* for the actual thermal mismatch. I fail to see how reactive joining provides a superior solution.

I think that their press releases should stress the *lower energies* involved with joining via their reactive layer. Lower energy = $$$$ savings.

Having less thermal mismatch is a design decision that may or may not be neccessary. Reducing manufacturing costs (less energy, lower temperatures) is an economic decision, and always good one.

That's my armchair manufacturing/Materials Science/marketing schpeel for the day.