Kovar Alloy – ASTM F15 UNS K94610 Controlled Expansion Alloy
Product Short Description
Kovar Alloy, also known as ASTM F15, UNS K94610 and FeNiCo controlled expansion alloy, is a nickel-iron-cobalt precision alloy specially designed for glass-to-metal sealing and ceramic-to-metal sealing applications. Its coefficient of thermal expansion is close to hard glass and borosilicate glass, making it highly suitable for hermetic sealing, electronic packaging, vacuum devices, sensors, relays and aerospace components.
SASA ALLOY supplies Kovar Alloy in plate, sheet, strip, bar, rod, wire, tube and customized machined forms according to customer drawings and project requirements. Products can be supplied with chemical composition analysis, mechanical testing, dimensional inspection, PMI testing, surface inspection, EN 10204 3.1 material certificate and full heat number traceability.
- Product Name: Kovar Alloy – ASTM F15 UNS K94610 Controlled Expansion Alloy
- Material Grade: Kovar / ASTM F15 / UNS K94610 / FeNiCo Alloy
- Product Type: Nickel-Iron-Cobalt Controlled Expansion Alloy
- Main Feature: Thermal expansion compatible with glass and ceramic sealing materials
- Applications: Glass sealing, ceramic sealing, hermetic sealing, electronic packaging and vacuum devices
Product Parameters
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Kovar Alloy |
| Material Grade | Kovar / ASTM F15 / UNS K94610 / FeNiCo Alloy |
| Material Type | Nickel-Iron-Cobalt Controlled Expansion Alloy |
| Product Form | Plate, Sheet, Strip, Bar, Rod, Wire, Tube, Flat Bar, Cut Plate, Machined Parts |
| Plate Thickness | 0.5 mm – 100 mm or customized |
| Sheet / Strip Thickness | 0.05 mm – 6.0 mm or customized |
| Bar Diameter | 3 mm – 300 mm or customized |
| Width / Length | Customized according to order or drawing |
| Surface Condition | Hot Rolled, Cold Rolled, Pickled, Polished, Ground, Machined |
| Standard | ASTM F15, UNS K94610, EN, DIN, JIS, GB or customer specification |
| Inspection | Chemical Analysis, Mechanical Test, PMI Test, Dimensional Inspection, Surface Inspection |
| Certificate | EN 10204 3.1 Material Certificate available |
| Processing Service | Cutting, Shearing, Grinding, CNC Machining, Custom Size Processing |
Chemical Composition
The chemical composition of Kovar Alloy is designed to match the thermal expansion behavior of selected glass and ceramic materials. The following values are for general reference only. Final composition should be confirmed according to ASTM F15, UNS K94610, purchase order requirements and mill test certificate.
| Element | Ni | Co | Fe | C | Mn | Si | P | S | Cr | Mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content % | 28.5 – 29.5 | 16.8 – 17.8 | Balance | ≤0.06 | ≤0.50 | ≤0.20 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.20 | ≤0.20 |
Mechanical Properties
Mechanical properties of Kovar Alloy may vary depending on product form, thickness, heat treatment condition, cold working ratio and final application requirements. SASA ALLOY can provide mechanical test reports according to customer specifications.
| Condition | Tensile Strength | Yield Strength | Elongation | Hardness | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annealed / Typical | 480 – 620 MPa | 275 – 350 MPa | 25% min | According to condition | Approx. 8.36 g/cm³ |
| Cold Worked / Custom | According to order | According to order | According to order | According to order | Approx. 8.36 g/cm³ |
Note: For Kovar Alloy applications, coefficient of thermal expansion, sealing compatibility, dimensional stability and surface quality are often more important than conventional strength values.
Common Size Table
| Product Form | Size Range | Surface | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kovar Sheet | 0.05 – 6.0 mm thickness | Cold Rolled / Pickled / Polished | Stock / Production |
| Kovar Plate | 6 – 100 mm thickness | Hot Rolled / Ground / Machined | Production / Made to Order |
| Kovar Bar | 3 – 300 mm diameter | Hot Rolled / Forged / Turned / Ground | Production / Made to Order |
| Kovar Wire | 0.1 – 10 mm diameter | Bright / Pickled / Annealed | Production / Customized |
| Kovar Tube | Customized OD, WT and length | Pickled / Polished / Machined | Made to Order |
Different Specifications Comparison
| Type | Product Form | Typical Surface | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kovar Sheet / Strip | Thin sheet, strip, foil-like material | Cold Rolled / Pickled / Polished | Lead frames, electronic packaging, glass sealing parts |
| Kovar Plate | Plate, cut plate, machined plate | Hot Rolled / Ground / Machined | Vacuum devices, sealing components, precision fixtures |
| Kovar Bar / Rod | Round bar, rod, flat bar, machined bar | Turned / Ground / Polished | Connectors, pins, feedthroughs, machined sealing parts |
| Kovar Wire | Wire, straight wire, coil wire | Bright / Annealed / Pickled | Electronic leads, sealing wire, relay and sensor parts |
| Kovar Machined Parts | Custom CNC components | Machined / Ground / Polished | Hermetic sealing assemblies and high-precision components |
Equivalent Standards and International Names
Kovar Alloy is known by different names in international markets. Customers may search for Kovar, ASTM F15, UNS K94610, FeNiCo alloy, glass sealing alloy or controlled expansion alloy.
| Country / Standard | Common Name | Equivalent Grade |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM | ASTM F15 | Kovar Alloy |
| UNS | UNS K94610 | Kovar |
| Commercial Name | Kovar Alloy | Fe-Ni-Co Controlled Expansion Alloy |
| China / GB Reference | 4J29 | Kovar Equivalent |
| Application Name | Glass Sealing Alloy | Hermetic Sealing Alloy |
Production Process Flow
The production process of Kovar Alloy requires strict control of chemical composition, melting quality, rolling or forging condition, heat treatment, surface condition and dimensional accuracy to ensure stable controlled expansion performance and reliable sealing compatibility.
| Process Step | Description | Quality Control Point |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Material Selection | Select qualified nickel, cobalt and iron raw materials | Raw material certificate and traceability |
| Melting | Control alloy composition and impurity elements | Chemical composition analysis |
| Rolling / Forging | Produce plate, sheet, bar or other forms according to order | Thickness, diameter, flatness and internal quality control |
| Annealing | Heat treatment to improve structure and dimensional stability | Temperature and holding time control |
| Inspection | Final inspection before shipment | Dimension, surface, PMI, certificate review |
Product Inspection
1. Chemical Composition Inspection
Chemical composition analysis is performed to verify nickel, cobalt and iron content. For Kovar Alloy, stable Fe-Ni-Co composition is essential for matching the required thermal expansion behavior.
2. Mechanical Properties Testing
Tensile strength, yield strength, elongation and hardness can be tested according to customer requirements. Mechanical testing helps confirm material reliability for precision industrial applications.
3. Dimensional Inspection
Thickness, width, length, diameter, flatness and tolerance are inspected before shipment to ensure that the Kovar material meets the purchase order or drawing requirements.
4. PMI Testing and Traceability
PMI testing can be used to verify material grade and prevent material mix-up. Heat number traceability and EN 10204 3.1 material certificate can be supplied with the shipment.
Product Packaging
SASA ALLOY provides export-grade packaging for Kovar Alloy materials to protect the products during sea, air and land transportation.
- Protective Film: Applied to polished or machined surfaces to reduce scratches.
- Waterproof Wrapping: Used to protect sheets, plates, bars and wires from moisture during transport.
- Wooden Case Packaging: Suitable for cut plates, bars, wires and precision machined components.
- Pallet Packing: Suitable for heavy plates and batch shipments.
- Clear Marking: Grade, heat number, size, quantity and customer PO number can be marked on labels.
Applications
Kovar Alloy is widely used where controlled thermal expansion and reliable sealing compatibility are required. It is especially suitable for glass-to-metal sealing, ceramic-to-metal sealing and hermetic electronic packaging applications.
| Industry | Typical Applications | Why Kovar Is Used |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics | Lead frames, connectors, electronic packages, feedthroughs | Controlled expansion and reliable sealing performance |
| Glass Sealing | Glass-to-metal sealing parts, vacuum tubes, lamp components | Thermal expansion compatible with selected glass materials |
| Ceramic Sealing | Ceramic-to-metal sealing parts and precision assemblies | Stable dimensional control and hermetic sealing performance |
| Vacuum Devices | Vacuum packages, sensors, relays and electronic tubes | Reliable performance in vacuum and sealed environments |
| Aerospace and Defense | Hermetic electronic packages, precision sensor housings | Stable expansion and reliable sealing under demanding conditions |
Why Choose SASA ALLOY?
- Professional supplier of Kovar Alloy / ASTM F15 / UNS K94610 controlled expansion alloy materials
- Available in plate, sheet, strip, bar, rod, wire, tube and custom machined parts
- Support for ASTM F15, UNS K94610, EN, DIN, JIS, GB and customer specifications
- Material traceability with heat number control
- EN 10204 3.1 material certificate available
- Chemical analysis, mechanical testing, PMI testing and dimensional inspection support
- Export packaging suitable for international transportation
- Suitable for glass sealing, ceramic sealing, hermetic sealing and electronic packaging applications
FAQ
What is Kovar Alloy?
Kovar Alloy is a nickel-iron-cobalt controlled expansion alloy designed for glass-to-metal sealing and ceramic-to-metal sealing applications. It is also known as ASTM F15 or UNS K94610.
Is Kovar the same as ASTM F15?
Yes. Kovar is commonly supplied according to ASTM F15 and UNS K94610 requirements for controlled expansion and sealing applications.
What forms of Kovar can SASA ALLOY supply?
SASA ALLOY can supply Kovar Alloy in plate, sheet, strip, bar, rod, wire, tube and customized machined parts according to customer requirements.
What certificate can be supplied with Kovar Alloy?
EN 10204 3.1 material certificate can be supplied. Chemical composition, mechanical properties, heat number and traceability information can be provided according to order requirements.
What are the main applications of Kovar Alloy?
Kovar Alloy is mainly used for glass-to-metal sealing, ceramic sealing, hermetic sealing, electronic packaging, vacuum devices, sensors, relays and aerospace electronic components.
Contact Us
If you are looking for Kovar Alloy, ASTM F15 Kovar, UNS K94610 Alloy or customized controlled expansion alloy materials, please contact SASA ALLOY with your required grade, size, standard, surface condition, quantity and inspection requirements. Our team can provide professional material solutions for precision alloy and hermetic sealing applications.
