1. Installation conditions for the metal link

Installing the metallic bond would theoretically involve bringing the surfaces to be joined together so that the surface atoms reach distances of the order of magnitude of the internode distances of their own crystal system. This operation, which presupposes that the surfaces are chemically clean and in a specularly polished state, is not practically feasible.

To make up for the shortcomings caused by industrialization requirements, the surfaces to be joined must be activated, while eliminating bodies and elements likely to disrupt the bond.

The most effective way of activating surfaces is by melting, which can also be used to clean them. The metal bond is created by solidification. Different processes can be used:

• the two parts to be joined undergo surface melting and thus contribute to the...