Oxidation of Al-containing austenitic stainless steels as related to the formation of strong glass-ceramic to metal seals

Lithia-alumina-silica (LAS) glass-ceramics have been sealed to Al-containing stainless steels which have undergone preoxidation prior to sealing in order to substantially reduce the probability of LAS glass-metal reactions during seal formation. The reduction of reaction-products thus obtained improves overall interface quality without forfeiture of seal bond strength. Auger data are presented which indicate that the oxide compositions yielded by the mechanism of surface oxide formation in these Al-containing steels is a function of oxidation temperature. 14 refs.