Seal between metal and ceramic conduits

1. A seal between a ceramic conduit and a metal conduit, the seal comprising:

a sealing surface of the ceramic conduit;

a sealing surface of the metal conduit;

a gasket body defining a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposing the first surface, the first surface of the gasket body directly contacting the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit; and

a compliant interlayer disposed between the second surface of the gasket body and the sealing surface of the metal conduit, the compliant layer directly contacting the sealing surface of the metal conduit;

wherein the gasket body comprises a mineral selected from the group consisting of mica, vermiculite, montmorillonite, and hexagonal boron nitride; and

wherein the compliant interlayer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a cermet, a metal, a metal alloy, and a metal composite.

2. The seal of claim 1 wherein the seal consists of:

the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit;

the sealing surface of the metal conduit;

the gasket body, wherein the gasket body is a single gasket body; and

the compliant interlayer, wherein the compliant interlayer is a single compliant interlayer;

wherein the compliant interlayer directly contacts the second surface of the gasket body.

3. The seal of claim 2

wherein the gasket body comprises at least 95 weight % of a mineral selected from the group consisting of mica, vermiculite, montmorillonite, and hexagonal boron nitride;

wherein the first surface of the gasket body is at least essentially parallel the second surface of the gasket body;

wherein the gasket body separates the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit from the compliant interlayer;

wherein the gasket body has a thickness of 0.025 mm to 0.26 mm;

wherein the compliant interlayer is a metal comprising at least 95 weight % of gold, silver, palladium, or alloys thereof;

wherein the compliant interlayer has a thickness of 0.025 mm to 1.27 mm prior to heating; and

wherein the compliant interlayer does not contact the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit.

4. The seal of claim 2

wherein the gasket body is mica paper, vermiculite paper, talc-infiltrated vermiculite paper, or hexagonal boron nitride sheet;

wherein the first surface of the gasket body is at least essentially parallel the second surface of the gasket body;

wherein the gasket body separates the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit from the compliant interlayer;

wherein the gasket body has a thickness of 0.025 mm to 0.26 mm;

wherein the compliant interlayer is a metal comprising at least 95 weight % of gold, silver, palladium, or alloys thereof;

wherein the compliant interlayer has a thickness of 0.025 mm to 1.27 mm prior to heating; and

wherein the compliant interlayer does not contact the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit.

5. The seal of claim 1

wherein the gasket body comprises at least 95 weight % of a mineral selected from the group consisting of mica, vermiculite, montmorillonite, and hexagonal boron nitride;

wherein the first surface of the gasket body is at least essentially parallel the second surface of the gasket body;

wherein the gasket body separates the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit from the compliant interlayer;

wherein the gasket body has a thickness of 0.025 mm to 0.26 mm;

wherein the compliant interlayer is a metal comprising at least 95 weight % of gold, silver, palladium, or alloys thereof;

wherein the compliant interlayer has a thickness of 0.025 mm to 1.27 mm prior to heating; and

wherein the compliant interlayer does not contact the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit.

6. The seal of claim 1

wherein the gasket body is mica paper, vermiculite paper, talc-infiltrated vermiculite paper, or hexagonal boron nitride sheet;

wherein the first surface of the gasket body is at least essentially parallel the second surface of the gasket body;

wherein the gasket body separates the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit from the compliant interlayer;

wherein the gasket body has a thickness of 0.025 mm to 0.26 mm;

wherein the compliant interlayer is a metal comprising at least 95 weight % of gold, silver, palladium, or alloys thereof;

wherein the compliant interlayer has a thickness of 0.025 mm to 1.27 mm prior to heating; and

wherein the compliant interlayer does not contact the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit.

7. The seal of claim 1 wherein the gasket body comprises at least 95 weight % of a mineral selected from the group consisting of mica, vermiculite, montmorillonite, and hexagonal boron nitride.

8. The seal of claim 1 wherein the gasket body is mica paper, vermiculite paper, talc-infiltrated vermiculite paper, or hexagonal boron nitride sheet.

9. The seal of claim 1 wherein the compliant interlayer does not contact the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit.

10. The seal of claim 1 wherein the first surface of the gasket body is at least essentially parallel the second surface of the gasket body.

11. The seal of claim 1 wherein the gasket body has a thickness of 0.025 mm to 0.26 mm.

12. The seal of claim 1 wherein the compliant interlayer is a metal comprising at least 95 weight % of gold, silver, palladium, or alloys thereof.

13. The seal of claim 1 wherein the compliant interlayer has a thickness of 0.025 mm to 1.27 mm prior to heating.

14. The seal of claim 1 wherein the gasket body separates the sealing surface of the ceramic conduit from the compliant interlayer.

15. The seal of claim 1 wherein the gasket body is a shear layer or slip layer that possesses the characteristic of lubricity or is a sheet-like structure comprising sheets or flakes which can be displaced relative to one another in directions which are at least essentially parallel to the sheets or flakes.

16. The seal of claim 1 wherein the ceramic conduit is constructed of one or more single phase multicomponent metal oxides and/or of one or more multiphase composite materials.