British Scientists Realize that Welding Glass and Metal has the Potential to Disrupt the Manufacturing Industry

We know that human manufacturing or construction industries cannot do without welding technology, and metal and glass are the most common building materials. It is impossible to weld glass and metal together using current welding methods.

According to data, in March 2019, a research team in the UK successfully developed a method of welding metal and glass together.

Researchers from Heriot Watt University in the UK fused two materials together using very short infrared light pulses along the junction. Researchers believe that this new process has the potential to change the manufacturing industry and will have applications in aerospace, defense, optical technology, and even healthcare.

Professor Duncan Hand, Director of EPSRC Laser Production Process Innovation Manufacturing Center, said, "Traditionally, it is difficult to weld two completely different materials together due to their different thermal characteristics. High temperature and thermal expansion will first cause glass breakage

He stated that welding glass and metal together would be a significant advancement in manufacturing processes and design flexibility. At present, equipment and products involving glass and metal are usually bonded together by adhesives, which can be cumbersome to use and components may gradually detach or move. In addition, volatilization is also a problem - organic chemicals in the adhesive will gradually be released, leading to a shortened product life.

Through experiments, researchers have successfully welded various optical materials such as quartz, borosilicate glass, sapphire, etc. onto metals such as aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel. The duration of infrared light pulses is only a few picoseconds (equivalent to the concept of 1 second to 30000 years). Scientists will need to weld two materials in close contact, however, the laser is focused through optical materials to form a very small and high-intensity light spot. This creates a microplasma (similar to the formation of a tiny lightning ball inside the material) surrounded by a highly restricted melt region. Scientists tested these welds at temperatures ranging from minus 50 to 90 degrees Celsius and found that they were tightly bonded, strong enough to withstand extreme situations.

However, today in 2024, we have not seen the industrial application of ultra high speed laser welding because of cost issues, and it may take a long time for it to be widely popularized.