Ceramic Metallization & Metal Brazing Solution

At Grande céramique, we provide professional ceramic surface metallization and brazing services for demanding industries such as aerospace, power electronics, vacuum systems, medical devices, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Combining deep expertise in technical ceramics, precision brazinget hermetic ceramic-to-metal seal design, we help customers create reliable, high-performance assemblies that perform in extreme environments.

  • One-stop solution for metallized ceramics
  • High hermeticity and bond strength
  • Custom ceramic and metal options available

What is Ceramic Metallization?

Ceramic metallization is the process of applying a conductive metal layer onto the surface of ceramic components, enabling them to be soldered, brazed, or electrically connected to metals. This process is essential for producing ceramic to metal seals in vacuum systems, high-frequency devices, and electrical insulation assemblies.

At Great Ceramic, we offer multiple metallization options:

  • Ideal for alumina ceramics (Al₂O₃) and other oxide materials
  • Metallization paste applied via screen printing, brushing, or spraying
  • Fired at ~1500 °C in a reducing atmosphere (H₂/N₂)
  • Finished with nickel or gold plating for enhanced solderability
  • A modified system with tungsten to improve thermal conductivity
  • Excellent for high-power vacuum and RF applications
  • Uses active filler alloys (Ag-Cu-Ti, Ag-Cu-Zr, etc.)
  • Directly bonds non-oxide ceramics such as Aluminum Nitride (AlN), Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄), and Silicon Carbide (SiC)
  • No pre-metallization required
  • Ideal for hermetic ceramic assemblies and simplified processing

Metallized Ceramic Components We Provide

Metallized Ceramic Insulator

Metallized Ceramic Insulator

Suitable for RF windows, laser systems, and sensor housings

Vacuum Ceramic Component

Vacuum Ceramic Component

Tailored to specific mechanical, electrical, or environmental requirements

Metallized Ceramic Insulator

Metallized Ceramic Tubes

Used in electron tubes, thermocouples, and insulation

Metallized Ceramic Ring

Metallized Ceramic Ring

Hermetic feedthroughs for vacuum and power devices

All metallized layers are inspected for adhesion, thickness, continuity, and surface quality. Plated layers are tested for solderability and corrosion resistance.

Ceramic Brazing & Ceramic-to-Metal Seal Solutions

Once metallized, ceramic parts are brazed to metals like Kovar, titanium, or stainless steel using high-temperature brazing techniques. This creates ceramic-to-metal assemblies with superior gas-tightness and mechanical reliability.

Great Ceramic can provide technical ceramic brazed components to meet the specific requirements of customers. Many of the parts we provide are complex, designed to strict specifications or used in particularly demanding critical applications.

  • Vacuum and atmosphere brazing
  • Filler metals: Ag-Cu, Ag-Cu-Ti, Au-based, Ni-Cr alloys
  • Metals joined: Kovar, titanium, molybdenum, Invar, stainless steel
  • Brazing temperature: Typically 750–1000 °C
  • Typical joint strength: >150 MPa
  • Hermeticity: Up to 10⁻¹¹ Pa·m³/s

Ceramic Brazing Features

Le produit adopte le matériau Kovar ou le cuivre exempt d'oxygène dont le coefficient de dilatation linéaire est similaire à celui des céramiques, afin de réaliser le scellement céramique-métal par brasage. Il permet de réaliser une connexion étanche à l'air entre les pièces en céramique et les pièces structurelles en métal. Cette structure d'étanchéité céramique-métal présente les caractéristiques suivantes : force d'étanchéité élevée, bonne étanchéité à l'air et grande fiabilité.

Ceramic Brazing & Sealing Applications

Utilisé dans les tubes de commutation à vide pour l'énergie électrique et l'électronique, divers klystrons, tubes à ondes progressives, tubes à micro-ondes, magnétrons, thyratrons, déclencheurs, jauges à vide, dispositifs de vision nocturne à micro-ondes et autres industries connexes d'isolation sous vide. La température d'utilisation générale ne dépasse pas 700°C.

Applications of Metallized Ceramics & Brazed Assemblies

Our metallized ceramics et brazed components are widely used across industries for critical tasks that require hermeticity, electrical insulation, thermal conductivityet mechanical strength.

Applications typiques :

  • Vacuum Electronics – Microwave tubes, TWTs, magnetrons, klystrons

  • Semiconductor Equipment – Sensor housings, ceramic circuit carriers

  • Power Modules – IGBT packages, insulated ceramic substrates

  • Aerospace & Defense – High-reliability radar and sensor systems

  • Imagerie médicale – X-ray, CT scanner ceramic-metal assemblies

  • Laser Systems & Optoelectronics – Optical isolators, high-voltage optics

Foire aux questions (FAQ)

A: Yes. We offer screen printing, needle dispensing, maskingou laser patterning to define metallized areas precisely.

A: We follow MIL-STD-883 et IPC-TM-650 test methods, including tape test, thermal shock, and shear pull strength.

A: Standard options include nickel (Ni), gold (Au)ou silver (Ag). We also support double-layer plating (Ni/Au) for solderability and corrosion resistance.

A: Lead time varies from 7–20 working days depending on part complexity and quantity. Expedite services are available.

A: Yes. We can metallize your supplied ceramics or braze your metallized components with your preferred metal alloys.

A: We can metallize Al₂O₃, AlN, ZrO₂, Si₃N₄, SiC, BeO, and MGC ceramics using Mo/Mn, Mo/Mn/W, or active brazing methods.

A: Yes. We offer end-to-end services from ceramic processing to metallization, plating, brazing, and quality inspection.

A: We offer Ni, Auou Ag electroplating, including Ni/Au dual-layer plating for oxidation resistance and solderability.

A: Joint strengths typically exceed 150 MPa, and our ceramic-to-metal seals can withstand –70 °C to over 700 °C depending on materials used.

A: Yes. We support low-volume development projects and can help optimize your design for manufacturability.

Expert en fabrication de céramiques avancées

Why Partner with Great Ceramic?

  • Full-Service Manufacturer – From raw ceramic machining to metallization and brazing
  • High Precision – Advanced metrology, plating thickness control, and thermal simulations
  • Custom Engineering Support – CAD design, prototyping, material consultation
  • Reliable Quality – Adherence to MIL/IPC standards, vacuum leak testing
  • Flexible Volumes – From one-off samples to large batch production
  • Export Experience – Worldwide shipping with English-speaking technical support

Get in Touch with Our Engineers

Whether you need metallized ceramic tubes, ceramic rings with nickel plating, or a custom ceramic-to-metal brazed assembly, we have the expertise and production capability to support your application.