Bonding of silicon carbide components

Abstract

A method of bonding a first silicon carbide part to a second silicon carbide part is provided. The first silicon carbide part provides a receiving female joint member and the second silicon carbide part provides an insertion male joint member. The male and female members each have facing sidewalls substantially parallel to a direction in which the male member is inserted into the female member. The male and female joint members are configured to provide an average gap(s) between the facing sidewalls of the joint members which is up to about 0.003 inch (0.76 mm). The female joint member further has reservoir means for containing silicon when the male joint member is fully inserted into the female joint member, the reservoir means being in fluid communication with the gap(s). The reservoir means is filled with solid-state silicon, e.g., in powder form. The male joint member is inserted into the female joint member, and the first and second silicon carbide parts are heated to above the melting point of silicon for a time sufficient for the silicon to melt, whereupon molten silicon is drawn into the gap(s) between the facing sidewalls of the male and female joint members by capillary action. Subsequent cooling of the assembled parts solidifies the silicon, thereby securing the joint between the male and female members with solidified silicon forming a bond between the facing sidewalls of the male and female joint members.