US5083697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Particle-enhanced joining of metal surfaces
Assignee: NanoPierce Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1990-02-14
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Granted: 1992-01-28
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Expires: 2010-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A method for joining a first metal surface to a second metal surface employs metallized particles or protuberances disposed between said surfaces. The metallized particles include a core particulate composed of a material having a hardness greater than that of the metals to be bonded. By compressing the metal surfaces together in a generally normal or perpendicular direction, one or both of the metal surfaces is compressed into a metal region formed around the particulate core. In this way, very high local regions of stress are created which cause the metal to elastoplastically deform, enhancing the ability to form diffusion bonds. Alternatively, temporary electrical or other junctions may be formed by bringing the surfaces together under less rigorous conditions and/or using metals which are incapable of forming diffusion bonds.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis DiFrancesco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:01
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K35/00; B23K35/02; B23K20/00; B23K20/16; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/325; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/06; H05K3/328; H05K3/40; H05K3/4007; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/50; H10W72/531; H10W72/536; H10W72/5363; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/751; H10W90/754; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/922; Y10S428/9265; Y10S428/929; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49126; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12486; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249987; Y10T428/24999
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for joining a first metal surface to a second metal surface, said method comprising the steps: forming metallized particles having particulate cores with a hardness greater than that of the metal surfaces; applying the particles to at least one of the metal surfaces; bringing the surfaces together to form an interface; and applying a compressive force to the surfaces in a direction generally normal to said interface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for joining a first metal surface to a second metal surface, said method comprising the steps: forming metallized particles having particulate cores with a hardness greater than that of the metal surfaces; applying the particles to at least one of the metal surfaces; bringing the surfaces together to form an interface; and applying a compressive force to the surfaces in a direction generally normal to said interface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the particulate cores are embedded beneath at least one metal surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein at least one metal surface has been formed over the particulate cores which are distributed on a substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the metallized particles are at least partly coated with metal and distributed over at least one metal surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces have generally complementary profiles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 5, wherein the first and second surfaces are generally planar so that they meet along a generally planar interface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 6, wherein the compressive force is applied in a direction which is generally normal with respect to the planar interface between the surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the surfaces are formed from the same metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, platinum, titanium, tungsten, chrome, nickel, gold, silicon, iron, copper, cobalt, silver, molybdenum, lead, tin, indium, and alloys thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the surfaces are formed from different metals which are incapable of forming a diffusion bond.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a material having a hardness greater than about 5.5 mohs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a material having a hardness greater than about 7 mohs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a natural mineral material selected from the group consisting of diamond, corundum (sapphire), magnetite, garnet, quartz, quartzite, silica, and tripoli.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a synthetic material selected from the group consisting of oxides, nitrides, and carbides.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the particles have a mean particle size in the range from about 1 μm to 2.5 mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 12, wherein the particles have an irregular geometry having sharp edges.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 12, wherein the particulate cores have a regular geometry.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 12, wherein the particles are present on the surface at a density from about 50 particles/mm 2 to 10,000 particles/mm 2 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein a sufficient compressive force is applied for a sufficient time to form a permanent mechanical bond.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein a sufficient compressive force is applied for a sufficient time to form a temporary mechanical bond.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the joint results in electrical coupling between the first and second metal surfaces.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for joining a first metal surface to a substrate, said method comprising: distributing hard particulate cores over at least selected portions of the substrate; forming a second metal surface over the particulate cores on the substrate, whereby metallized protuberances result, wherein said second metal surface is composed of the same metal as the first metal surface; positioning the first metal surface against the second metal surface; and applying a preselected compressive force to the first and second metal surfaces, whereby the surfaces are joined together at the locations of the protuberances.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for joining a first metal surface to a substrate, said method comprising: distributing hard particulate cores over at least selected portions of the substrate; forming a second metal surface over the particulate cores on the substrate, whereby metallized protuberances result, wherein said second metal surface is composed of the same metal as the first metal surface; positioning the first metal surface against the second metal surface; and applying a preselected compressive force to the first and second metal surfaces, whereby the surfaces are joined together at the locations of the protuberances.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein the compressive force is applied substantially only in a direction normal to an interface between the metal surfaces.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein the first and second surfaces have generally complementary profiles to define an interface as they are joined.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 24, wherein the first and second surfaces are generally planar so that they meet along a generally planar interface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 25, wherein the compressive force is applied in a direction which is generally normal with respect to the planar interface between the surfaces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein the surfaces are composed of the same metal as the substrate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein the metal surfaces are composed of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, platinum, titanium, tungsten, chrome, nickel, gold, silicon, iron, copper, cobalt, silver, molybdenum, lead, tin, indium, and alloys thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a material having a hardness greater than about 5.5 mohs.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a material having a hardness greater than about 7 mohs.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a natural mineral material selected from the group consisting of diamond, corundum (sapphire), magnetite, garnet, quartz, quartzite, silica, and tripoli.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein the particulate cores are composed of a synthetic material selected from the group consisting of oxides, nitrides, and carbides.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein the particulate cores have a mean particle size in the range from about 1 μm to 2.5 mm.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 33, wherein the particles have an irregular geometry having sharp edges.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 33, wherein the particulate cores have a regular geometry.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 33, wherein the particles are present on the surface at a density from about 50 particles/mm 2 to 10,000 particles/mm 2 .
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein a sufficient compressive force is applied for a sufficient time to form a permanent mechanical bond.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein a sufficient compressive force is applied for a time insufficient to form a permanent mechanical bond.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 22, wherein the joint results in electrical coupling between the first and second metal surfaces.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-27 | 1995-07-29 | 1996-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-27 | 1999-07-29 | 2000-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | 2004-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |