Improved metal to ceramic sealed joint.

摘要

A metal to ceramic sealed joint which can withstand wide variations in temperature and maintain a good seal is provided for use in a device adapted to withstand thermal cycling from about 20 to about 1000 degrees C. The sealed joint includes a metal member (344), a ceramic member (320) having an end portion (321), and an active metal braze forming a joint (346) to seal the metal member (344) to the ceramic member (320). The joint (346) is positioned remote from the end portion of the ceramic member (320) to avoid stresses at the ends or edges of the ceramic member. The sealed joint (346) is particularly suited for use to form sealed metal to ceramic joints in a thermoelectric generator such as a sodium heat engine where a solid ceramic electrolyte is joined to metal parts in the system.