JOINS HAVING AT LEAST PARTIALLY CRYSTALLIZED GLASS

Abstract

A join is provided that has an electrically insulating component and two joining partners secured to one another and electrically insulated from one another by the electrically insulating component. The electrically insulating component has a surface that extends between the two joining partners. The surface defines a structure selected from a group consisting of an elevation, a depression, and any combinations thereof. The structure elongates a direct path along the surface. The structure completely surrounds at least one of the two joining partners. The electrically insulating component and/or the structure includes a glass that is at least partially crystallized.

Claims

1. A join comprising: an electrically insulating component; and two joining partners secured to one another and electrically insulated from one another by the electrically insulating component, the electrically insulating component comprises a surface that extends between the two joining partners, the surface defining a structure selected from a group consisting of an elevation, a depression, and any combinations thereof wherein the structure elongates a direct path along the surface, wherein the structure completely surrounds at least one of the two joining partners, and wherein the electrically insulating component and/or the structure comprises a glass that is at least partially crystallized.

2. The join of claim 1, wherein the insulating component is bonded or glass-fused to each of the two joining partners.

3. The join of claim 1, wherein the structure is integral with the insulating component and is made of the glass.

4. The join of claim 3, wherein the electrically insulating component further comprises a predominantly amorphous glass layer between the electrically insulating component and the two joining partners, wherein the predominantly amorphous glass layer comprises a property selected from a group consisting of less than 10 pores per cm.sup.3, a thickness of 5 μm or less, a thickness of 2 μm or less, a thickness of 1 μm or less, and combinations thereof.

5. The join of claim 4, wherein the predominantly amorphous glass layer is on the structure.

6. The join of claim 1, wherein the structure is made of a material that is different from the surface, and wherein the structure is bonded or glass-fused to each of the two joining partners.

7. The join of claim 6, wherein the structure comprises a heat-resistant ceramic material selected from a group consisting of forsterite, aluminum oxide-based ceramic, zirconium oxide-based ceramic, and Y-stabilized zirconium oxide ceramic.

8. The join of claim 6, wherein the structure is disposed on the insulating component so as to be centered in a radial direction thereof.

9. The join of claim 8, wherein the structure protrudes into the insulating component.

10. The join of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a reinforcement selected from a group consisting of a metal foil, a metal sheet, a metallic laid scrim, a mesh, and a knitted fabric.

11. The join of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a reinforcement consists of steel or ferritic steel.

12. The join of claim 1, wherein the structure has edges with a rounding radius of less than one tenth of a millimeter.

13. The join of claim 1, wherein the glass comprises a feature selected from a group consisting of: a residual glass fraction of less than 10%, a residual glass fraction of less than 5%, crystal aggregates, needle-shaped crystallites, platelet-shaped crystallites, rod-shaped crystallites, platelet-shaped crystallites, crystallites arranged in a radiating pattern, crystallites arranged in a spherulitic pattern, crystallites arranged in a fan-shaped pattern, a Young's modulus between 80 GPa and 200 GPa, and a Young's modulus between 100 GPa and 125 GPa.

14. The join of claim 1, wherein the glass comprises: La.sub.2O.sub.3 more than 0.3 mol % to less than 5 mol %; Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 0 mol % to 9 mol %; Ta.sub.2O.sub.5 0 mol % to 7 mol %; Σ(A.sub.2O.sub.5) more than 0.2 mol % to 9 mol %, where A is an element which, in oxides, has an oxidation number V+.

15. The join of claim 14, wherein A comprises an element selected from a group consisting of Nb, Ta, P, and mixtures thereof.

16. The join of claim 1, wherein the glass comprises crystallites having crystallization nuclei at grain boundaries and/or crystallites having grain boundaries with enrichments in lanthanum arranged thereon.

17. The join of claim 1, further comprising a difference, as an absolute value, between thermal expansion coefficients of the two joining partners and the glass that is 5*10.sup.−6/K or less.

18. The join of claim 1, further comprising a property selected from a group consisting of a heat resistance that withstands operating temperatures of at least 1000° C., a shock-resistance according to ISO 16750-3, a vibration-resistance according to ISO 16750-3, a a helium leak rate of less than 10.sup.−8 mbar*l/s, and any combinations thereof.

19. The join of claim 1, wherein the surface is free of any meniscus.

20. The join of claim 1, wherein the two joining partners are made of materials selected from a group consisting of metal, steel, normal steels, high-grade steel, stainless steel, heat resistant ferritic steel, Thermax, Thermax 4016, Thermax 4742, Thermax 4762, Crofer 22 APU, CroFer 22 H, NiFe-based materials, NiFe45, NiFe47, nickel-plated pins, Inconel, Inconel 718, Inconel X-750, CF25, Alloy 600, Alloy 625, Alloy 690, SUS310S, SUS430, SUH446, SUS316, austenitic steel 1.4828, austenitic steel 1.4841, aluminum oxide-based ceramic, zirconium oxide-based ceramic, and Y-stabilized zirconia ceramic.

21. The join of claim 1, wherein the join is configured for a use selected from a group consisting of an exhaust gas sensor, a pressure sensor, a particle sensor, a soot particle sensor, a temperature sensor, a NOx sensor, an oxygen sensor, a compress feedthrough, an e-compressor feedthrough, an electrical power feedthrough of an exhaust gas component, a fuel cell feedthrough, and a chemical reactor a feedthrough.

22. A crystallizable or at least partially crystallized glass, comprising: La.sub.2O.sub.3 more than 0.3 mol % to less than 5 mol %; Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 0 mol % to 9 mol %; Ta.sub.2O.sub.5 0 mol % to 7 mol %; Σ(A.sub.2O.sub.5) more than 0.2 mol % to 9 mol %, where A is an element having an oxidation number V+ in oxides.

23. The glass of claim 22, wherein A comprises an element selected from a group consisting of Nb, Ta, P, and mixtures thereof.

24. The glass of claim 22, further comprising an oxide RO, with Σ(RO)≤55 mol %, where R is an element which, in oxides, has an oxidation number II+.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0156] The presently disclosed embodiments will now be explained in more detail with reference to the figures, wherein:

[0157] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the joins presently disclosed, with the sectional plane along plane A-A, shown in FIG. 1a, running approximately through the center of the join,

[0158] FIG. 1a shows a plan view of the first embodiment shown in cross section in FIG. 1;

[0159] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view through a second embodiment of the joins presently disclosed, with the sectional plane running approximately through the center of this join, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1a;

[0160] FIG. 2a shows a plan view of a creepage distance elongation of the first disclosed embodiment, on which a trace of a graphite or lead pencil can be seen;

[0161] FIG. 2b shows a plan view of a creepage distance elongation of the first disclosed embodiment, on which a trace of a graphite or lead pencil can be seen after it has been at least partially removed with a cellulose cloth by a lateral wiping movement;

[0162] FIG. 2c shows a plan view of a creepage distance elongation of the first disclosed embodiment, on which a trace of a graphite or lead pencil can be seen after it has been at least partially removed with a cellulose cloth by a lateral wiping movement;

[0163] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view through a third embodiment of the joins presently disclosed, with the sectional plane approximately running through the center of this join, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1a;

[0164] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view through a fourth embodiment of the joins presently disclosed, with the sectional plane approximately running through the center of the join, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1a;

[0165] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view through a fifth embodiment of the joins presently disclosed, with the sectional plane approximately running through the center of the join, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1a;

[0166] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view through a sixth embodiment of the joins presently disclosed, with the sectional plane approximately running through the center of the join;

[0167] FIGS. 7 to 10 are scanning micrographs of at least partially crystallized glasses according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0168] FIG. 11 shows a scanning micrograph of a join according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0169] For the sake of better comprehension, the components of the embodiments presently disclosed in the following detailed description are not drawn to scale, and the same reference symbols denote the same or functionally equivalent components of the respective embodiments.

[0170] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view through a first embodiment of a join 5 presently disclosed, in which the sectional plane corresponding to plane A-A of FIG. 1a runs approximately through the center of the join 5 and includes the center line M.

[0171] This join 5 comprises an electrically insulating component 53 and at least two joining partners 51, 52. Without limiting the generality, joining partner 51 has a hollow cylindrical shape in the presently disclosed embodiments, and comprises a metal or a ceramic material, as will be explained in more detail below. Joining partner 52 may also be made of a metal, as will be described in more detail below, and may, for example, form part of an electrical or electronic feedthrough and thus be a constituent of an electrical or electronic link when used as intended.

[0172] At least one of the joining partners 51, 52 is kept electrically insulated from at least one further of the joining partners 51, 52 by an electrically insulating component 53.

[0173] This component 53 may comprise or may be made of the presently disclosed crystallizable or partially crystallized glass.

[0174] The insulating component 53 includes a portion 54 which extends between the joining partners 51, 52 and is bonded thereto and preferably glass-fused thereto. In the context of the present disclosure, glass-fused thereto means that the crystallizable or partially crystallized glasses, when heat treated, form an amorphous or glassy layer on their surface, which can virtually fuse to the material of the respective joining partner and in this fused state is referred to as glass-fused thereto.

[0175] The upper surface O delimiting the insulating element with respect to portion 54 is shown by a dash-dotted line L in FIG. 1, thereby merely schematically illustrating the course of the upper surface O without the structure S, i.e., without the creepage distance elongation, for comparison with a join including the structure S and therefore including the creepage distance elongation. Without the structure S, the upper surface would define a flat surface, possibly with menisci formed on the respective joining partners.

[0176] In the presently disclosed embodiments, however, a structure S is provided on this surface of portion 54 of the electrically insulating component 53 which extends between the joining partners, in the present case in particular in the form of an elevation defined by portion 55.

[0177] This portion 55 defining the structure S extends or elongates a distance along the surface of the insulating component 53 from the inner joining partner 52 to the outer joining partner 51, which distance when including the structure S, i.e., the creepage distance elongation, can be elongated by up to seven times or even more.

[0178] As a result, low-resistance deposits on the respective surface will contribute to a reduction of the electrical resistance between the joining partners 51 and 52 only to a much lesser extent.

[0179] In the case of deposits that form droplets and/or a surface film, it can be very advantageous if the structure S has edges with a rounding radius Rv of less than one tenth of a millimeter, preferably of less than one twentieth of a millimeter, and of more than 10 In this case, as a rule, often under the influence of gravity, a surface film or a coating consisting of droplets will not extend over this edge with the rounding radius Rv, thereby preventing a closed surface coverage from arising.

[0180] As an alternative to the elevation illustrated in the present embodiments, the structure S can also define a depression, which then protrudes into the insulating component 53. In any case, however, in particular the direct path along the surface from the at least one joining partner to the at least one further joining partner will be elongated compared to a surface without this structure S. Here, ‘direct path’ is understood to mean the shortest path along the surface from one joining partner to the other joining partner, on the one hand without the structure S, and on the other hand with the structure S according to the invention.

[0181] The structure S preferably completely surrounds at least one joining partner, in the present case the joining partner 52, in the form of an annular structure, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 1a, by way of example. In the sense of the present disclosure, the statement of ‘completely surrounding’ does not mean a complete three-dimensional enclosure, although this may in principle also be the case. Within the scope of the present disclosure, complete surrounding is already provided when complete annular surrounding is implemented, in particular in such a way that complete sealing can already be provided by such surrounding.

[0182] The structure S may be formed integrally with and of the same material as the portion 54 of the insulating component 53, which extends between the joining partners 51, 52 and is bonded and preferably glass-fused to each of them.

[0183] Preferably, in this case, the material of the insulating component 53 comprises an at least partially crystallized glass, as described in more detail elsewhere within the context of the present disclosure.

[0184] In this case, the insulating component 53 including the structure S can be formed in a single thermal processing sequence and in particular its crystallization degree can be adjusted.

[0185] Advantageously, the presently disclosed crystallizable glass forms an at least predominantly amorphous glass layer in the transition zone between the surface of the joining partner and the surface of the at least partially crystallized glass during the heat treatment, in particular during the glass-fusing, which glass layer will then durably remain at this location throughout continuous operation, and which preferably comprises less than 10 pores per cm.sup.3 and/or preferably has a thickness of 5 μm or less, more preferably of 2 μm or less, and most preferably of 1 μm or less. In this way, a hermetic bond is obtained between the joining partners 51, 52 and the insulating component 53.

[0186] In a preferred embodiment, the structure comprises crystallizable or at least partially crystallized glass, and an at least predominantly amorphous boundary layer, in particular a glass layer, is formed on the surface of the structure, which is substantially void of open pores and in particular includes less than 10 pores per cm.sup.3, and which has a thickness of 5 μm or less, preferably 2 μm or less, and most preferably 1 μm or less.

[0187] In this at least predominantly amorphous boundary layer which has a thickness of 5 μm or less, preferably 2 μm or less, and most preferably 1 μm or less, depending on the embodiment, the fraction of the amorphous or glassy phase, measured in percent by weight in each case, is greater than the fraction of all respective crystalline phases combined, also measured in percent by weight.

[0188] However, it is entirely possible that at least some of the oxides that form the glass matrix, for example La.sub.2O.sub.3, may at least partially become incorporated in crystal phases in the further course of ceramization. However, a residual content of glassy phase, albeit a small one, will normally remain, which is in particular formed by the glass matrix-forming oxides, and which forms the amorphous boundary layers mentioned above.

[0189] The inventors developed a test in order to determine whether an embodiment as presently disclosed is provided.

[0190] If a pencil such as a graphite pencil of hardness HB is used to draw a line St, by way of example, on the surface of the structure S or on the surface O, as shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c, by guiding the pencil perpendicular to the surface of the structure S with a pressure of about 100 mN, this line St will be obtained as shown in FIG. 2a in each case.

[0191] If a cellulose cloth, e.g., Zewa brand, is used to wipe parallel to the surface of the structure S or to the surface O with a contact pressure of also about 100 mN, strong removal will be caused from the components presently disclosed which comprise crystallizable glass or partially crystallized glass, since the graphite of the graphite or lead pencil cannot be retained in pores of the otherwise smooth surface. Thereby, the contrast between the line St and the surface of structure S or of surface O will typically be greatly reduced, for example to a value of less than 50% or less than 0.5, depending on the specification of the contrast.

[0192] However, in the case of components that are made of zirconium oxide, for example, if a cellulose cloth, e.g., Zewa brand, is used to wipe parallel to the surface of the structure S or to the surface O with a contact pressure of, again, about 100 mN, only slight removal will be caused because the graphite of the graphite or lead pencil can be retained in pores of the surface of the ceramic. Thereby, the contrast between the line St and the surface of structure S or of the surface O will typically be only slightly reduced, for example to a value of greater than 50% or greater than 0.5, depending on the specification of the contrast.

[0193] In further embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 merely by way of example, the structure is not made of the same material as the portion 54 of the insulating component 53 that extends between the joining partners 51, 52 and is bonded to each of the joining partners and preferably glass-fused thereto. In this case, the structure S may comprise or consist of a heat resistant ceramic compound such as forsterite, an aluminum oxide-based ceramic, or a zirconium oxide-based ceramic, for example a ceramic comprising Y-stabilized zirconium oxide. If the structure S is not made of the material according to the invention, the pencil test cannot be conducted positively either.

[0194] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view through a second embodiment of the joins presently disclosed, with the sectional plane running approximately through the center of this join, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a.

[0195] In this embodiment, the structure S includes a reinforcement 56 which comprises or is made of a metal foil, a sheet metal, or a metallic laid scrim, mesh, or knitted fabric, wherein the metal preferably is a steel or comprises steel. This substantially ring-shaped or annular reinforcement 56 is preferably held in further insulating components 57, 58, 59, which may be in the form of sintered parts and may accommodate the reinforcement 56 and will be glass-fused thereto after the thermal treatment. The material of the substantially ring-shaped components 57, 58, and 59 may consist of the crystallizable glass presently disclosed.

[0196] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view through a third embodiment of the joins presently disclosed, with the sectional plane approximately running through the center of this join, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a.

[0197] In this embodiment, the structure S is not made of the same material as the portion 54 of the insulating component 53 that extends between the joining partners 51, 52 and is bonded to each of the joining partners and preferably glass-fused thereto. The structure S comprises or is made of a heat resistant ceramic material such as forsterite, an aluminum oxide-based ceramic, or a zirconium oxide-based ceramic, for example a ceramic comprising Y-stabilized zirconium oxide.

[0198] As can be clearly seen in FIG. 3, the structure S protrudes into and is surrounded by the insulating component 53 such that the protruding portion of the structure S will preferably be glass-fused thereto during the heat treatment. The structure S is disposed so as to be approximately centered in a radial direction of the portion 54 of the insulating component 53 and preferably protrudes into it, at least with a portion thereof. This radial direction is indicated by an arrow R in FIG. 3.

[0199] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view through a fourth embodiment of the joins presently disclosed, with the sectional plane approximately running through the center of the join, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a.

[0200] This further schematic view of a join 5, not drawn to scale, differs from the joins 5 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 by the design of the structure S that provides the creepage distance elongation 55. In addition to the material of portion 54, this structure comprises a second material. This second material is also an insulating material, but differs from the material of portion 54. In this embodiment, the material of portion 54 is a crystallizable or at least partially crystallized glass, as will be described in more detail further below, and the second material has a different chemical and/or crystallographic composition. That is to say, the second material differs from the material of portion 54 in that it has a different chemical composition and/or in that it has a different crystal content. In particular, the second material may be made from or may comprise ZrO.sub.2. It has been found that particularly dimensionally stable and heat resistant structures S can be obtained as creepage distance elongations if between 5 wt % and 25 wt % of a second material, preferably ZrO.sub.2, are added as the second material. A content from 10 to 15 wt % is particularly preferred.

[0201] FIG. 5 shows a highly schematic view of a design of a join 5 according to a fifth embodiment. Here, the outer lateral surface 552 of portion 55 has a slightly arcuate or curved shape, i.e., it is not completely planar. By contrast, the inner lateral surface 553 of portion 55 is planar here. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the degree of planarity of lateral surface 552 is different from the degree of planarity of lateral surface 553. Although, lateral surface 552 is shown somewhat not true to scale here, since in reality the lateral surfaces will not exhibit such a large deviation from a planar design.

[0202] FIG. 6 shows the case of a join 5 according to a further, sixth embodiment, in which both the inner and the outer lateral surfaces 552 and 553 are not perfectly planar or flat. However, in this case, both lateral surfaces 552 and 553 exhibit the same degree of planarity. Here, again, the drawing is not true to scale in order to allow to illustrate the effect of a not completely planar lateral surface. Usually, significantly smaller deviations from a planar lateral surface are obtained.

[0203] FIG. 7 shows a first scanning micrograph of an at least partially crystallized glass according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The at least partially crystallized glass comprises crystal aggregates 1 formed by a large number of crystallites, and these crystallites are preferably needle-shaped. In FIG. 1, one crystal aggregate 1 is indicated as such, by way of example. Furthermore, crystallites 21 can be seen at grain boundaries and are indicated by way of example, as well as needle-shaped crystallites 22.

[0204] FIG. 8 shows a second scanning micrograph of an at least partially crystallized glass according to a further embodiment of the disclosure. Here, too, the at least partially crystallized glass comprises crystal aggregates formed by a large number of crystallites, which are preferably needle-shaped. Moreover, pores are in part located between the individual crystallites, and, furthermore, the at least partially crystallized glass comprises a residual glass phase disposed between the crystallites. By way of example, crystallites 2 are designated here, which form a star-shaped crystal aggregate in this case. Also, the residual glass phase 3 can be seen, which has a gray color in the scanning micrograph, as well as the (black colored) pore 4 which is designated by way of example.

[0205] FIG. 9 shows a third scanning micrograph of yet another at least partially crystallized glass according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Here, again, the crystal aggregates can be seen. The crystallites are so fine, here, that they are hardly recognizable as such at the selected resolution. In this way, a very dense, fine structure is achieved. By way of example, reference can be made, here, to the very fine crystals designated by 22.

[0206] FIG. 10 is yet another scanning micrograph of yet another at least partially crystallized glass according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In contrast to the crystallites of the at least partially crystallized glass shown in FIG. 9, the crystallites 23 forming part of the crystal aggregates of the at least partially crystallized glass are not this fine here, rather it can be seen that they have a rod-like or possibly platelet-shaped form. The crystallites 23 are interlocked with one another here, similar to a “house of cards structure”.

[0207] FIG. 11 shows a scanning micrograph of a join according to one embodiment of the disclosure. At the interface of the joining partner arranged on the left of the image to the at least partially crystallized glass, a very thin boundary layer is formed, which comprises less than 10 pores per cm.sup.3. This is an at least predominantly amorphous glass layer which has a thickness of 5 μm or less, preferably 2 μm or less, and most preferably 1 μm or less.

[0208] The following statements are made for all of the embodiments disclosed above.

[0209] The embodiments described above were only described with regard to two joining partners. However, it comes within the scope of the present disclosure that three or more joining partners can be held together in a join by the insulating component, similarly as presently disclosed.

[0210] The joins presently disclosed provide for a multifold elongation of the creepage distance, and an elongation by a factor of more than 7 was achieved.

[0211] What is furthermore advantageous is the combination of water resistance in environments susceptible to electrocorrosion and the high dimensional stability of the joins presently disclosed.

[0212] The sufficiently high electrical resistance of the crystallizable glass makes it eligible for being used as a creepage distance elongation even under water condensation (in general) or even coolant (e.g., as a feedthrough in an electric compressor).

[0213] One advantage over ceramics is the closed porosity of the structure S, i.e., of the protruding material.

[0214] Continuous duty applications include feedthroughs for electricity or power supply for heating components (e.g., primarily for use in heatable catalytic converter elements), sensors in exhaust gas systems, and generally as a feedthrough for electric compressors, primarily in automotive applications.

[0215] In the embodiments disclosed above, the crystallites may at least partially include crystallization nuclei at the grain boundaries, and/or lanthanum enrichments may at least in part be located at the grain boundaries of the crystallites, in particular comprising lanthanum compounds.

[0216] During operation, the crystal aggregates of the presently disclosed crystallizable or partially crystallized glasses can counteract a displacement of volume elements of the at least partially crystallized glass relative to one another.

[0217] In the joins presently disclosed, the surface of the at least partially crystallized glass has no meniscus.

[0218] In the joins presently disclosed, the joining partner may comprise a metal, in particular a metal from the group of steels, e.g., normal steels, high-grade steels, stainless steels, and heat resistant ferritic steels, also known under the brand name Thermax, e.g., Thermax 4016, Thermax 4742, or Thermax 4762, or Crofer 22 APU, or CroFer 22 H, or NiFe-based materials, e.g., NiFe45, NiFe47, or nickel-plated pins, or known under the brand name Inconel, e.g., Inconel 718 or X-750, or steels such as known under the designations CF25, Alloy 600, Alloy 601, Alloy 625, Alloy 690, SUS310S, SUS430, SUH446, or SUS316, or austenitic steels such as 1.4762, 1.4828, or 1.4841, Kanthal heating wire, or a heat-resistant ceramic compound such as forsterite, an aluminum oxide-based ceramic, or a zirconium oxide-based ceramic, for example a ceramic comprising Y-stabilized zirconia.

[0219] The joins presently disclosed exhibit a helium leak rate of less than 10.sup.−8 mbar*l/s and/or comprise an at least partially crystallized glass which has a Young's modulus between 80 GPa and 200 GPa, preferably a Young's modulus between 100 GPa and 125 GPa.

[0220] In the crystallizable or at least partially crystallized glass presently disclosed, the CaO content of the crystallizable or at least partially crystallized glass can range between at least 35 mol % and at most 46 mol %, preferably between at least 35 mol % and less than 43.5 mol %, and/or the MgO content of the crystallizable or at least partially crystallized glass can range between 5 mol % and less than 13 mol %.

[0221] In the case of the presently disclosed crystallizable or at least partially crystallized glass, the glass may be provided in the form of an at least partially crystallized glass and may have a coefficient of linear thermal expansion of more than 9*10.sup.−6/K, preferably more than 10*10.sup.−6/K in the temperature range from 20° C. to 700° C., wherein, most preferably, the coefficient of linear thermal expansion of the at least partially crystallized glass is greater than 9*10.sup.−6/K, preferably greater than 9.5*10.sup.−6/K in the temperature range from 20° C. to 1000° C.

[0222] In the case of the presently disclosed crystallizable or at least partially crystallized glass, the glass may be provided in the form of a crystallizable glass and may have a transition temperature T.sub.g of more than 720° C.

[0223] In the case of the crystallizable or at least partially crystallized glass presently disclosed, the crystallizable glass may exhibit a temperature, t.sub.K100, for an electrical resistivity of 10.sup.8 Ω.Math.cm, preferably determined according to DIN 52326, of 500° C. or more.

[0224] In the case of the presently disclosed crystallizable or at least partially crystallized glass, the at least partially crystallized glass may include crystallites of calcium-magnesium silicates, preferably of CaO-rich calcium-magnesium silicates, in particular of CaO-rich calcium-magnesium island silicates and/or group silicates, such as merwinite and/or a solid solution with a merwinite structure, and alternatively or additionally a crystal phase with a melilite structure, such as åkermanite Ca.sub.2MgSi.sub.2O.sub.7 and/or gehlenite Ca.sub.2Al[AlSiO.sub.7] and/or solid solutions thereof, and/or a crystal phase with an augite structure.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0225] 1 Crystal aggregate [0226] 2 Crystallite [0227] 21 Crystallites at grain boundaries [0228] 22 Needle-shaped crystallites [0229] 23 Rod-shaped or platelet-shaped crystallites [0230] 3 Residual glass [0231] 4 Pore [0232] 5 Join [0233] 51 First joining partner [0234] 511 Upper edge of first joining partner [0235] 52 Second joining partner [0236] 521 Upper edge of second joining partner [0237] 53 Insulating component [0238] 54 Portion of insulating component disposed between the joining partners [0239] 55 Portion of insulating component protruding beyond joining partner 51, creepage distance elongation [0240] 56 Reinforcement [0241] 57 Substantially annular component [0242] 58 Substantially annular component [0243] 59 Substantially annular component [0244] M Center line [0245] S Structure providing the creepage distance elongation [0246] O Upper surface of insulating component 53 [0247] Rv Rounding radius on the edge [0248] St Line drawn with a pencil on the surface of structure S or on surface O [0249] R Radial direction