Hermetic sealing of glass plates
Durable hermetic seals between two inorganic substrates are produced using a high-intensity electromagnetic energy source, such as laser, to heat and seal enamel layers with controlled absorption of high-intensity energy source. Durable hermetic seals incorporating electrical feedthroughs are also produced.
1. A method of forming a hermetic seal between two inorganic substrates comprising:
a. applying a first glass-based sealant to a first inorganic substrate,
b. applying a second glass-based sealant to a second inorganic substrate,
c. applying an enamel composition to the first sealant,
d. sintering the first and second sealants such that the first sealant fuses to the first substrate and the second sealant fuses to the second substrate,
e. positioning the first and second substrates such that the enamel composition is situated between the sintered first and second sealants, and
f. heating the enamel composition to thereby form a hermetic seal between the first and second substrates.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a composition including a conductive metal across at least one of the first and second sealants so as to form a conductive feed through in the hermetic seal wherein:
at least one of the first and second sealants is substantially free of electromagnetic energy absorbers.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first sealant is substantially free of electromagnetic energy absorbers.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second sealant is substantially free of electromagnetic energy absorbers.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the enamel composition comprises an electromagnetic energy absorber, and the enamel composition is heated by electromagnetic energy.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the enamel composition absorbs at least 40% of the incident electromagnetic energy.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the electromagnetic energy is directed through at least one of the first and second sealants that is substantially free of electromagnetic energy absorbers to thereby heat the enamel composition.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second sealants through which the electromagnetic energy is directed to heat the enamel composition absorbs less than 20% of the incident electromagnetic energy.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein sintering the first sealant also causes the enamel composition to sinter.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the enamel composition is applied to the first sealant after the first sealant is sintered.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying an enamel trace including a conductor, across the first sealant and positioned between the first sealant and the enamel composition,
wherein sintering the first sealant causes the enamel trace and the enamel composition to sinter, thereby hermetically sealing a conductive feed through between the sintered first sealant and the sintered enamel composition.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the first sealant is applied parallel to an edge of the first substrate,
the enamel composition is applied parallel to the edge of the first substrate and substantially over the first sealant, and
the enamel trace including a conductor contacts the first substrate in the area adjacent to both edges of the first sealant.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enamel composition is heated with electromagnetic energy and the enamel composition absorbs at least 40% of the incident electromagnetic energy.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second sealants do not absorb greater than 20% of the incident electromagnetic energy.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein a conductive feed through is incorporated in the hermetic seal.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the conductive feed through comprises an electrode of a photovoltaic device.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein one of the first and second substrates includes an indium tin oxide coating as a conductive feed through the hermetic seal.