The preparation and use of particulate metallic solder alloy having particles of a single chemical composition is described. The particles of the particulate metallic solder alloy have a bimodal size distribution in which particles in a smaller size range have a largest dimension that is smaller than a smallest dimension of particles in a larger size range of the bimodal distribution. In some examples the particles in the smaller size mode have dimensions in the range of 1 to 100 nm. In some examples, the particles in the larger size mode have dimensions in the range of 2 to 75 microns in dimension. In some examples, a halogen-free flux is used. In some examples, a solvent is used to make a paste.

Disclosed is a metal core solder ball having improved heat conductivity, including a metal core having a diameter of 40600 m, a first plating layer formed on the outer surface of the metal core, and a second plating layer formed on the outer surface of the first plating layer.

A brazing method for assembling two elements includes selecting two brazing materials that can generate, when they are heated and melted, an intermetallic compound having a melting temperature which is higher than the melting temperature of each of the selected brazing materials taken individually, positioning the two selected brazing materials between the two elements, heating and melting the two selected brazing materials in order to substantially reach the melting temperature of each of the selected brazing materials so as to achieve the precipitation of an intermetallic compound having a melting temperature which is higher than the melting temperature of each of the selected brazing materials taken individually.

A mount structure having a joining capable of withstanding development of cracks generated by thermal stress due to repeated temperature changes in a mount structure having the joining of a large area is formed by joining a ceramic substrate electrode of a ceramic substrate and a metal substrate electrode of a metal substrate by a laminate, in which the laminate is formed by stacking a first interface layer, a first solder joining portion, a second interface layer, a first buffer material electrode, a buffer material, a second buffer material electrode, a third interface layer, a second solder joining portion and a fourth interface layer in this order from the ceramic substrate electrode toward the metal substrate electrode, a thickness of the laminate is 30 m or more and 100 m or less, a difference between a thickness of the first solder joining portion and a thickness of the second solder joining portion is within 25%, and differences in elastic moduli and in linear expansion coefficients between the first solder joining portion and the buffer material are respectively within 62%.

A method of pretinning a guidewire core made of shape memory alloy and having an elongate axis, comprising: placing a ball of solder in a pocket in a soldering block; melting the ball of solder; holding a guidewire core over the ball of solder; lowering the guidewire core into the ball of solder; removing the guidewire from the ball of solder.

Provided is a noble metal material for 3D printing, the noble metal material including an alloy that contains gold (Au) and a first metal that is different from the gold, wherein the alloy contains about 50 wt % to about 100 wt % of the gold and contains more than about 0 wt % and at most about 50 wt % of the first metal, and the melting point of the alloy is at most 400 C.

A method of interconnecting a conductor and a hermetic feedthrough of an implantable medical device includes welding a lead to a pad on a feedthrough. The feedthrough includes a ceramic insulator and a via hermetically bonded to the insulator. The via includes platinum. The pad is bonded to the insulator and electrically connected to the via, includes platinum, and has a thickness of at least 50 m. The lead includes at least one of niobium, platinum, titanium, tantalum, palladium, gold, nickel, tungsten, and oxides and alloys thereof.

A method of pretinning a guidewire core made of shape memory alloy and having an elongate axis, comprising: placing a ball of solder in a pocket in a soldering block; melting the ball of solder; holding a guidewire core over the ball of solder; lowering the guidewire core into the ball of solder; removing the guidewire from the ball of solder.

A method for manufacturing a singulated feedthrough insulator for a hermetic seal of an active implantable medical device (AIMD) is described. The method begins with forming a green-state ceramic bar with a via hole filled with a conductive paste. The green-state ceramic bar is dried to convert the paste to an electrically conductive material filling via hole and then subjected to a pressing step. Following pressing, a green-state insulator is singulated from the green-state ceramic bar. The singulated green-state insulator in next sintered to form an insulator that is sized and shaped for hermetically sealing to close a ferrule opening. The thusly produced feedthrough is suitable installation in an opening in the housing of an active implantable medical device.

A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly attachable to an AIMD includes an insulator hermetically sealing the opening of a ferrule with a gold braze. The ferrule includes a peninsula extending into the ferrule opening and the insulator has a cutout matching the peninsula. A sintered platinum-containing paste hermetically seals at least one via hole extending through the insulator. At least one capacitor is disposed on the device side. An active electrical connection electrically connects the capacitor active metallization to the sintered paste. A ground electrical connection electrically connects the capacitor ground metallization disposed within a capacitor ground passageway to the portion of the gold braze along the ferrule peninsula. The dielectric of the capacitor may be less than 1,000 k.