What is a glass to metal seal?

Release time:2025-08-20

Glass to Metal Seals (GTMS) are a technology that forms a strong seal by utilizing the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between glass and metal. This technology effectively prevents gas and liquid leakage in extreme environments such as high temperatures, high pressures, and vacuum conditions, while also providing electrical insulation. It is widely used in high-end industries such as aerospace, nuclear energy, and electrical equipment, particularly in applications that require high sealing performance and environmental durability.

What are Glass to Metal Seals?

Glass to Metal Seals (GTMS) are a unique sealing technology that combines glass and metal to create a strong seal, utilizing the difference in their thermal expansion coefficients. This technology provides a durable seal under extreme conditions such as high temperatures, high pressures, and vacuum environments. Glass to metal seals effectively prevent gas or liquid leakage while also providing electrical insulation. They are widely used in aerospace, nuclear energy, electrical equipment, and other industries, particularly in applications where high sealing performance and environmental durability are required.

 

What are Glass to Metal Feedthroughs?

Glass to Metal Feedthroughsare a specific application of glass to metal seals, primarily used in electrical systems. These feedthroughs combine glass and metal materials to provide a pathway for electrical signal transmission while ensuring that the electrical system is well isolated from the external environment. In high-pressure, vacuum, or corrosive environments, glass to metal feedthroughs exhibit strong pressure resistance, corrosion resistance, and excellent electrical insulation. They are commonly found in power equipment, aerospace, and medical devices, ensuring the stable operation of these systems.

How to Customize Glass to Metal Seal Connectors?

Customizing glass metal sealing connectors involves designing and manufacturing them to meet specific application requirements. The customization process typically takes the following factors into account:

 

Environmental Conditions:

Temperature range, pressure, corrosiveness, and other working environment factors.

Physical Performance Requirements:

Such as electrical insulation, waterproofing, and gas resistance.

Material Selection:

Choosing the appropriate metals (e.g., stainless steel, titanium alloy) and glass materials (e.g., lead-barium glass, lead-silica glass) based on the application.

Design and Manufacturing Process:

 Ensuring precise dimensions and high-quality manufacturing to guarantee long-term stable operation.

During the customization process, it is critical to work closely with a professional manufacturer to ensure every detail meets strict quality standards and application requirements.

What Materials Are Used for Glass to Metal Seals?

Material selection is crucial for glass to metal seals, particularly ensuring thermal expansion compatibility between the metal and glass.

 

Commonly used metal materials include:

Stainless Steel: Known for its excellent corrosion resistance and high-temperature performance, suitable for most industrial applications.

Titanium Alloy: Strong, highly corrosion-resistant, and ideal for high-pressure and high-temperature environments.

Aluminum Alloy: Lightweight and easy to process, commonly used in applications that don't require extreme conditions.

Common glass materials include:

Lead-Barium Glass: Suitable for high-temperature environments, with good thermal expansion matching.

Lead-Silica Glass: Has a high melting point and excellent electrical insulation, ideal for high-pressure and high-temperature applications.

The choice of materials should be based on factors such as operating temperature, pressure, and corrosion levels, ensuring that the seal has long-term stability and reliability.

How Are Glass to Metal Seals Manufactured?

The manufacturing process of glass to metal seals is intricate and includes two key steps:

 

Metal Part Processing:

The metal parts are precision-machined according to the design specifications, ensuring accurate dimensions and smooth surfaces.

Glass Fusion:

The glass is heated to its melting point and fused with the metal parts to form a strong, hermetic seal.

Throughout the manufacturing process, factors such as temperature, time, and environment must be carefully controlled to ensure a seamless bond between the metal and glass, achieving optimal sealing performance.

What Are the Applications of Glass to Metal Seals?

Glass to metal seals have significant applications in various industries, especially where high sealing performance and environmental durability are required. Some of the primary applications of glass to metal seals include:

 

Battery End Seals

Lithium Battery Seals: Glass to metal seals are widely used in lithium batteries, especially for sealing the battery terminals. They effectively prevent battery leakage, short circuits, and other issues, ensuring the safety and efficiency of the battery.

Lithium Thionyl Chloride Battery Terminals: In lithium thionyl chloride batteries, glass to metal seals not only provide sealing but also offer electrical insulation, preventing the leakage of internal chemicals and ensuring long-term stability of the battery.

Other Application Fields

High-Pressure Gas Systems: Glass to metal seals can prevent gas leakage and ensure the safe operation of equipment.

Vacuum Equipment: Widely used in vacuum devices, they help maintain the stability and sealing performance of the equipment in a vacuum environment.

Electrical Feedthroughs: Glass to metal seals are commonly used in electrical power equipment, aerospace, and other fields to provide electrical isolation while preventing external substances from entering the system, ensuring normal operation.

What Are the Advantages of Glass to Metal Seals?

Glass to metal seals are widely used in various high-end industries due to their excellent performance. Their main advantages include:

Sealing Performance:

 Glass to metal seals provide highly efficient sealing in extreme conditions such as high temperatures, high pressures, and vacuum environments, effectively preventing leakage of gases, liquids, or electrical currents.

Thermal and Electrical Insulation:

These seals effectively isolate heat and electricity, preventing excessive heat transfer and electrical leakage, making them particularly suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure environments.

Durability and Long Service Life:

 Glass to metal seals are highly durable and resistant to high temperatures and corrosion, enabling long-term stable operation in extreme environments, thereby reducing maintenance and replacement costs.

 

What Are the Functions of Glass to Metal Seals?

The primary function of glass to metal seals is to provide a reliable sealing solution that prevents the ingress or egress of gases, liquids, or electrical currents. These seals not only offer superior sealing capabilities but also provide electrical insulation in certain applications, ensuring the stability and safety of devices and systems.

How to Find the Right Glass to Metal Seal Manufacturer?

When choosing a metal glass seal supplier, several factors should be considered:

 

Technical Expertise and Experience:

Ensure the manufacturer has extensive experience and technical expertise to offer customized solutions.

Quality Control System:

A reliable manufacturer should have a strict quality control system to ensure each product meets high standards.

Customer Service and Delivery Timelines: 

Efficient customer service and flexible delivery schedules are essential to meet customer needs and ensure timely delivery.

Production Capacity and Delivery Ability:

Choose a manufacturer with strong production capabilities to meet both large-scale and customized orders.

Collaborating with a reliable manufacturer ensures that you receive high-quality glass to metal seals that meet your specific needs, helping to ensure the stability and safety of your equipment.

Glass to metal seals are a critical technology for providing long-lasting and stable sealing under extreme conditions. They are widely used in industries such as aerospace, nuclear energy, electrical, and electronics. As industrial demands continue to grow, glass to metal seals play an increasingly important role in high-pressure, high-temperature, vacuum, and corrosive environments. As a professional glass to metal seal supplier,SINOPRIDE leverages advanced technology, strict quality control, and extensive industry experience to provide high-performance customized sealing solutions for customers worldwide. Choosing SINOPRIDE ensures reliable sealing technology and guarantees that your equipment will perform reliably in even the most demanding environments.