A feed-through element for harsh environments is provided that includes a support body with at least one access opening, in which at least one functional element is arranged in an electrically insulating fixing material. The electrically insulating fixing material contains a glass or a glass ceramic with a volume resistivity of greater than 1.010.sup.10 cm at the temperature of 350 C. The glass or a glass ceramic has a defined composition range in the system SiO.sub.2B.sub.2O.sub.3-MO.

Provided in one embodiment is an article, comprising a first part having a first surface and a hermetic seal disposed over a portion of the first surface, wherein the hermetic seal comprises a composition that is at least partially amorphous.

A feed-through element for harsh environments is provided that includes a support body with at least one access opening, in which at least one functional element is arranged in an electrically insulating fixing material. The electrically insulating fixing material contains a glass or a glass ceramic with a volume resistivity of greater than 1.010.sup.10 cm at the temperature of 350 C. The glass or a glass ceramic has a defined composition range in the system SiO.sub.2B.sub.2O.sub.3-MO.

Provided in one embodiment is a method of forming an interfacial layer or a seal, the method comprising: providing a composition that is at least partially amorphous, the composition having a glass transition temperature Tg and a crystallization temperature Tx; heating the composition to a first temperature that is below Tx; disposing the heated composition to form the interfacial layer or the seal; and cooling the interfacial layer or the seal to a second temperature that is below Tg.

The present invention provides a system and method for providing a seal for an electrical penetrator in a subsea environment. More specifically, the present invention provides for a system for creating a seal about an electrical penetrator without using o-rings or independent seals. The present invention provides for a set of supporting apparatuses to be placed in compression about a central ceramic penetrator element. The geometry of the central ceramic penetrator element and the interior of the supporting apparatuses forms a hermetic seal when under a constant radial and axial, or axial compressive force.

A feed-through element for harsh environments is provided that includes a support body with at least one access opening, in which at least one functional element is arranged in an electrically insulating fixing material. The electrically insulating fixing material contains a glass or a glass ceramic with a volume resistivity of greater than 1.010.sup.10 cm at the temperature of 350 C. The glass or a glass ceramic has a defined composition range in the system SiO.sub.2B.sub.2O.sub.3-MO.

A hermetic terminal includes a metal outer ring made of a low resistance conductor having a through hole, a lead made of a low resistance conductor inserted in the through hole of the metal outer ring, and an insulating material made of high expansion glass for sealing the metal outer ring and the lead.

A feed-through element for harsh environments is provided that includes a support body with at least one access opening, in which at least one functional element is arranged in an electrically insulating fixing material. The electrically insulating fixing material contains a glass or a glass ceramic with a volume resistivity of greater than 1.010.sup.10 cm at the temperature of 350 C. The glass or a glass ceramic has a defined composition range in the system SiO.sub.2B.sub.2O.sub.3-MO.

A feed-through element for harsh environments is provided that includes a support body with at least one access opening, in which at least one functional element is arranged in an electrically insulating fixing material. The electrically insulating fixing material contains a glass or a glass ceramic with a volume resistivity of greater than 1.010.sup.10 cm at the temperature of 350 C. The glass or a glass ceramic has a defined composition range in the system SiO.sub.2B.sub.2O.sub.3-MO.

A join is provided that includes a first joining partner, a second joining partner having a surface, an electrically insulating component connecting the first joining partner in the second joining partner so that the first joining partner is electrically insulated from the second joining partner and so that the first joining partner extends from the surface. The electrically insulating component has a structure between the first and second joining partners that elongates from the surface along the first joining partner. The electrically insulating component and/or the structure is an at least partially crystallized glass.