Nickel Kovar® / Rodar® Small Diameter Tubing

Nickel Kovar® / Rodar® Small Diameter Tubing

Glass-to-Metal Seal Reliability & Thermal Expansion Control from International Tube

At International Tube, we specialize in manufacturing precision Kovar® / Rodar® small diameter tubing, engineered for exceptional performance in glass-to-metal sealing and hermetic packaging applications. Kovar® (UNS K94610), also known by its generic equivalent Rodar®, is a controlled expansion alloy composed of approximately 29% nickel, 17% cobalt, and balance iron, specifically developed to match the thermal expansion characteristics of borosilicate glass.

This unique property makes Kovar® and Rodar® tubing ideal for hermetic seals, as the alloy expands and contracts at nearly the same rate as glass or ceramic components, reducing stress and the risk of seal failure during thermal cycling. Additionally, these alloys offer excellent dimensional stability, high strength, and good machinability, making them a reliable material for critical electronic and aerospace components.

Kovar® / Rodar® Tubing Features & Applications

Kovar® and Rodar® tubing from International Tube is trusted in industries that require precise thermal control and long-term hermetic integrity. Common applications include:

• Glass-to-metal and ceramic-to-metal seals

• Semiconductor device packaging

• Vacuum tube and photonic device housings

• High-reliability aerospace and defense electronics

• Medical device enclosures

• Sensor and instrumentation packaging

• Battery terminals and feedthroughs

Our Kovar®/Rodar® small-diameter tubing is manufactured using high-quality strip stock, plug drawn in coil form, and annealed as required to meet customer-defined temper specifications. Tubing is available in both straight lengths and continuous coil form to support a wide range of fabrication and integration needs.

For precision applications requiring unmatched compatibility with glass and ceramic materials, International Tube delivers Kovar® and Rodar® tubing solutions with the performance, consistency, and reliability your systems demand.