Braze compositions, and related devices

Abstract

A braze alloy composition for sealing a ceramic component to a metal component in an electrochemical cell is presented. The braze alloy composition includes nickel, silicon, boron, and an active metal element. The braze alloy includes nickel in an amount greater than about 50 weight percent, and the active metal element in an amount less than about 10 weight percent. An electrochemical cell using the braze alloy for sealing a ceramic component to a metal component in the cell is also provided.

1 . A braze alloy composition, comprising nickel, silicon, boron, and an active metal element, wherein nickel is present in an amount greater than about 50 weight percent, and the active metal element is present in an amount up to about 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of the braze alloy composition. 
     
     
         2 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 1 , comprising from about 60 weight percent to about 90 weight percent nickel. 
     
     
         3 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 1 , comprising from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent boron. 
     
     
         4 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 1 , comprising from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of silicon. 
     
     
         5 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 1 , comprising from about 0.5 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of the active metal element. 
     
     
         6 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 5 , comprising from about 1 weight percent to about 3 weight percent of the active metal element. 
     
     
         7 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein the active metal element comprises titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein the active metal element comprises titanium. 
     
     
         9 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein the brazing alloy comprises at least one additional element. 
     
     
         10 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 9 , wherein the additional element comprises chromium, niobium, cobalt, iron, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 10 , comprising from about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent cobalt. 
     
     
         12 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 10 , comprising from about 0.1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent chromium. 
     
     
         13 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 10 , comprising from about 0.1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent iron. 
     
     
         14 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 10 , comprising from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent molybdenum. 
     
     
         15 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 1 , having a liquidus temperature of at least about 850 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         16 . The braze alloy composition of  claim 15 , having a liquidus temperature in a range from about 850 degrees Celsius to about 1250 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         17 . A braze alloy composition, comprising greater than about 50 weight percent nickel, and from about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent each of chromium, iron, silicon, boron, and an active metal element, based on the total weight of the braze alloy composition. 
     
     
         18 . An electrochemical cell, comprising a first component and a second component joined to each other by the braze alloy composition comprising nickel, silicon, boron, and an active metal element, wherein nickel is present in an amount greater than about 50 weight percent, and the active metal element is present in an amount up to about 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of the braze alloy composition. 
     
     
         19 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 18 , wherein the braze alloy composition provides an active braze seal that joins the first component to the second component. 
     
     
         20 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 18 , wherein the first component comprises a metal, and the second component comprises a ceramic. 
     
     
         21 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 18 , wherein the first component comprises nickel. 
     
     
         22 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 18 , wherein the second component comprises alumina. 
     
     
         23 . An energy storage device comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells as defined in  claim 18 .