Kovar
Domestically Sourced for Critical Applications
Kovar is a nickel-cobalt-ferrous alloy popularly known for its thermal expansion properties.
The characteristics of Kovar closely match alumina and beryllia at brazing temperatures, which makes it an ideal choice for hermetically sealed ceramic-to-metal brazed assemblies, even under extreme temperatures.
Kovar can be used across a range of industries including medical, defense, and aerospace because of its unique properties:
- Soft material, which makes it easy to machine.
- Low thermal expansion coefficient which ensures high dimensional stability over a broad temperature range.
- High corrosion resistance for applications in harsh environments.
- Ferromagnetic properties for magnetic shielding applications.
- Hermetic sealing capabilities for applications requiring vacuum seal.
- Low thermal conductivity for controlled thermal expansion and stability.
An additional layer of nickel and gold plating can also be applied to Kovar to improve its resistance to corrosive environments.
To source you the best quality Kovar, we have partnered with qualified suppliers to source all of our Kovar domestically.
Kovar Etching for Intricate Designs
At Elcon Precision we combine the power of photochemical etching and CNC machining to etch Kovar materials with precision. The high-throughput etching process helps us to selectively remove materials from the Kovar substrate and create intricate patterns or features.
The nickel-iron-cobalt alloy has excellent mechanical properties that help it withstand tough chemical conditions and stay intact during etching processes.
The key benefit of using Kovar in manufacturing intricate parts and components for defense, aerospace, or medical applications is its excellent thermal expansion properties. This allows the components in aerospace and defense applications to withstand thermal cycling when required.
Our Etching Capabilities
We use the latest technology and state-of-the-art facilities to etch Kovar with precision, according to your specifications. Here’s how we help you with our Kovar etching services to manufacture precision parts for your applications:
- Combination of CNC machining and photochemical etching on up to 2 mm thick metal sheets.
- Photochemical machining of up to 0.025-inch thick sheets.
- Plating with nickel and gold for improved resistance to corrosive environment.
Kovar Applications
The unique properties of Kovar make it desirable across a range of industries such as telecommunication, defense, medical, and avionics, to develop metal parts and components through the chemical etching processes.
Here’s the list of applications that involve Kovar:
- Analytical instruments
- Conductors
- Electronic and ion sources
- Vacuum components
- Microwave tubes
- Radiofrequency electronics
- Hermetic applications
