Abstract: A method for joining together two or more ceramic and/or metal parts by providing a braze consisting of a mixture of copper oxide, silver, and ceramic particulate. The braze is placed upon the surfaces of the parts, which are then held together for sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to cause the braze to form a bond between the parts. The addition of the ceramic particulate increases the viscosity of the braze, decreasing squeeze out, decreasing the formation of air pockets, decreases the formation of brittle phases by providing nucleation sites and increases the flexural strength of the joint.

Abstract: In assembling an SOFC fuel cell stack from a plurality of cassettes, the mounting plate of one cassette is attached to, and insulated from, the separator plate of the next-adjacent cassette by a peripheral dielectric seal consisting of a ceramic coating and a metal braze. Materials suitable for the ceramic coating include yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ), zirconia toughened alumina, magnesium silicates such as the mineral forsterite, magnesium aluminates, magnesium aluminosilicates and lanthanum zirconate. The ceramic coating may be applied to the cassette's outer surface in known fashion as by physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, and various methods of plasma spray. An underlayer of alumina may also be used to provide a redundant layer of electrical insulation.