Copper-to-silicon-carbide joints development for Future CLIC Hom Dampers

Ceramic-to-metal joints have been of paramount importance for the nuclear and aeronautic industry since the last century. In this document, two different approaches to the Cu-to-SiC joining are briefly described and discussed. The first approach consists of an intermediate piece of lower Coefficient of Thermal Expansion than copper aiming to reduce the expansion mismatch with the ceramic during the brazing cycle. Soldering is selected as a second attempt, whose lower joining temperature reduces the absolute expansion difference between Cu and SiC. In addition, four SiC metallization processes are proposed and some of them have been also tested and discussed.