Transparent connection device, connection method using the device, and resulting connection structure - Patents.com

Abstract

To provide a through transmission connecting device, a connecting method using the device, and a resulting connection structure.SOLUTION: There is provided a through transmission connecting device (1) for connecting a first component (3) made of a light absorbing material to a second component (5) made of a light transmissive material by means of a light transmission bonding technology. The device comprises: a first tool (10) mounted to a first support (12) retaining the first component (3); and a second tool (20) mounted to a second support (22) retaining the second component (5). The first tool (10) and the second tool (20) are moveable with respect to each other, and the first tool (10) is at least partly made of or comprises a layer of a thermal isolator (14) having high thermal resistance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transparent connection device for connecting a first component made of a light absorbing material to a second component made of a light transmitting material by light transmitting bonding or welding techniques, a connection method using the transparent connection device, and the resulting connection structure consisting of a first component made of a light absorbing material and a second component made of a light transmitting material. [Background technology]

[0002] In the field of energy storage, and in particular storing electrical energy, various solutions exist. One of these solutions is the use of batteries, which has become increasingly important in recent years.

[0003] In the field of batteries, there are also some alternative solutions. Among others, flow batteries or redox flow batteries are used, which are a type of electrochemical cell in which the chemical energy is supplied by two chemical components dissolved in a liquid that is pumped through the system, on separate sides of a membrane. An example of a redox battery is described in EP 0 312 875 A1.

[0004] In such battery systems, the electrodes are usually composed of graphite due to its large electrochemical potential window. An exemplary method for producing the respective graphite electrodes is described in EP 2519479 A1, in which a layered composite material is produced comprising at least one woven layer and at least one graphite-containing compact obtained by a method in which graphite particles are mixed with at least one solid organic additive to form a mixture, and the mixture thus obtained is compressed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 0312875 [Patent Document 2] European Patent Application Publication No. 2519479 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In particular in view of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative method for producing a respective graphite electrode for use in an electrochemical cell, as well as a respective device for producing such a graphite electrode. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The above object is solved by a transparent connecting device according to independent claim 1, a connecting method using the inventive transparent connecting device according to independent claim 9, and a connecting structure according to independent claim 13. Further preferred embodiments and developments arise from the following description, the drawings and the appended claims.

[0008] The transparent connection device of the present invention for connecting a first component made of a light-absorbing material to a second component made of a light-transmitting material by a light-transmitting joining technique comprises a first tool attached to a first support holding the first component and a second tool attached to a second support holding the second component, the first tool and the second tool being relatively movable, and the first tool being at least partially made of or comprising a layer of a thermal insulator having a high thermal resistance.

[0009] The general configuration of a transmission connection device, such as a transmission welding device, as well as the procedural flow, are known in the prior art, particularly in the field of plastic welding, where a transmission welding device is used to connect a first plastic component of a light or laser absorbing material to a second plastic component of a light or laser transparent material. The respective processes are also referred to as laser plastic welding, transmission welding, or polymer welding, although the concept of connecting two plastic components is the same.

[0010] The basic principle of this joining or connecting method is to transmit laser radiation through one plastic component, i.e. the transmission component, to form a connection. Unlike standard welding, where energy is applied to the surface of the materials, the transmission connecting method applies energy between two plastic components at their interface. This can be done by irradiating the complete connection part, connection structure or weld line simultaneously, i.e. by simultaneous light or laser transmission welding. Further methods are pseudo-simultaneous transmission welding or contour welding, in addition to other methods. Within the present invention, the use of the simultaneous method is particularly preferred.

[0011] The structure and function of the transparent interconnect device of the present invention will now be discussed based on an exemplary fabrication of graphite electrodes for use in electrochemical cells and the like.

[0012] An exemplary graphite electrode consists of a first component made of a light or laser absorbing material. In a preferred example, the first component is a plastic matrix material filled with graphite particles. The second component provides a frame for later mounting of the graphite containing first component in a redox flow battery cell stack, for example, and is preferably made of a plastic that is transparent to the light or laser used.

[0013] To connect, i.e. join or weld, the first and second components are first placed between a first tool and a second tool. For example, the first component is placed in the first tool and the second component is placed on the first component or in the second tool. In this regard, it is assumed that the light, in particular the laser light, for heating the first component in the connection structure or connection part comes from the second tool and therefore passes first through the second component. For example, the first tool attached to the first support is a lower tool, and the first support is a lifting platform. Thus, the second tool attached to the second support is an upper tool with a waveguide, which has a transparent plate at the exit end and is attached with its opposite entrance end to an upper mounting plate as an upper support. Preferably, the first and / or second support are at least partially made of metal, in particular steel or aluminum.

[0014] After the components are placed in the device, the first tool and the second tool are moved relative to one another to a connection position in which the first component and the second component at least partially abut each other, preferably at their respective connection portions.

[0015] A welding force is then applied to the first and second components, which are irradiated by a light source during the welding force, thus maintaining the resulting contact pressure. Preferably, the first and second components are irradiated at the connection portion. After light transmission, particularly laser light transmission, through the transparent or upper second component, the incident light is absorbed by the lower first component and converted into heat within the material. When the laser light is converted into heat by the absorbing component, the thermal energy is transferred to the transparent component, allowing the transparent component to soften and melt. By ensuring that the two components are in intimate contact, the thermal energy can be conducted to the transparent component.

[0016] For the first exemplary component, i.e., a plastic matrix material filled with graphite particles, for which the transmission connection method may be used in combination, known devices for laser transmission welding are not suitable. In particular, it was found that typical laser transmission welding devices are not capable of sufficiently heating the components to be connected so that a reliable connection is obtained. Even increasing the amount of energy directed by the light source to the components could not completely overcome this drawback.

[0017] After intensive research, it was found that the use of an insulator as the first tool or a layer of an insulator in the first tool overcomes this drawback. The use of this insulator allows the application of the transparent connection method for manufacturing the exemplary graphite electrode as described above, since the insulator at least inhibits or preferably prevents the heat transfer to the first support, for example, as will be explained below.

[0018] As a final step of the method, particularly after the light source is turned off and sufficient time has elapsed for the components to be pressed together with the welding force to harden the softened material, the first tool and the second tool are moved relatively from the connection position, whereupon the user can remove the manufactured connection structure, i.e., the exemplary graphite electrode with frame element for assembling the redox flow battery.

[0019] Based on the above description, the use of light-transmitting bonding technology to manufacture graphite electrodes is a first difference from the prior art and a particular technical advantage of the present invention. In particular, the use of this technology makes the manufacture easy and cost-effective. A further advantage is that a device has been developed that can apply the light-transmitting bonding technology to manufacture such graphite electrodes.

[0020] In this regard, and in particular with regard to the transparent connection device, it has been found that the transparent connection device of the present invention can further be used in any application in which a light or laser absorbing and highly thermally conductive material as a first component is connected, i.e. joined or welded, to a light or laser transparent second component, preferably in any electrochemical application.

[0021] Since graphite has a thermal conductivity of λ=119-165 W / (mK), all materials with a thermal conductivity in the range of λ≧50 W / (mK), preferably λ≧75 W / (mK), particularly preferably λ≧100 W / (mK) are considered to be high thermal conductivity materials. In this regard, it is pointed out that the thermal conductivity of a material is a highly significant property indicating its ability to conduct heat. For the method of measuring thermal conductivity, see laser flash analysis or laser flash method. This analysis or method is used to measure the thermal diffusivity of various different materials by energy pulses that heat one side of a plane-parallel sample and detect the resulting time-dependent temperature increase on the back side due to the energy input.

[0022] For completeness, it is pointed out that due to the process used, i.e. the light-transmitting joining technique, the insulator must have a low thermal conductivity and also meet further requirements inherent to this technique. For example, as mentioned above, the first component or the absorbing component is heated by the laser light. The insulator must therefore have a respective thermal resistance. In other words, the melting point of the insulator must be sufficiently higher than the temperature to which the absorbing component is heated during the joining method.

[0023] Furthermore, the welding force applied to connect the two components together must be taken into account, and therefore the insulation, which must withstand this welding force and the resulting contact pressure, must also have the respective resistance in this respect.

[0024] All of these factors must be considered when evaluating a suitable insulation. Below, these requirements will become clearer based on the preferred embodiment. In a preferred embodiment of the transparent connection device, the thermal insulator has a thermal conductivity of λ≦2 W / (mK), preferably λ≦1 W / (mK). This requirement ensures in particular that the thermal insulator has a low thermal conductivity and provides adequate insulation and thus prevents heat conduction to the first tool.

[0025] In the transparent connection device of the present invention, the thermal insulator is t mp ≧200° C., preferably t mp It is even more preferred that it has a melting point of ≧250° C. This requirement addresses the second bullet above: in particular, the insulator does not melt during connection of the two components. As a result of the above, it is particularly advantageous if the insulation is a thermoplastic material, in particular polyetheretherketone (PEEK). PEEK, as a particularly preferred material for the insulation, has on the one hand a very low thermal conductivity of about λ=0.25 W / (mK) and on the other hand a low thermal conductivity of about t mp = 335°C. Moreover, it is sufficiently resistant to the applied welding forces as mentioned above.

[0026] The insulation is 1mm≦t i ≦10cm, preferably 2.5mm≦t i ≦7.5 cm, particularly preferably 5 mm≦t i It is further preferred that the thickness range is ≦5 cm. These thickness ranges ensure that heat conduction is prevented. In this regard, the thickness of the first tool or the respective layer depends on and correlates with the material used. For example, a material with high thermal conductivity may require a high thickness to prevent heat conduction to the first support, while a material with low thermal conductivity, such as PEEK, may be present in a low thickness compared to a material with high thermal conductivity.

[0027] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the transparent connection device, the first tool further comprises a non-stick coating adjacent to the thermal insulation, whereby the non-stick coating is present at least in the contact area of ​​the first tool with the first component. Preferably, the non-stick coating consists of polytetrafluoroethylene. This coating makes it possible to prevent the first component from sticking to the first tool in a process-reliable manner.

[0028] With regard to the requirements regarding resistance to forces, as mentioned above, the insulation of the first tool preferably withstands forces, in particular compressive forces, so that there is sufficient stability of the insulation during use, in particular so that damage to the insulation, such as crack formation, does not occur due to the forces applied to press the components to be welded together.

[0029] A connection method of the present invention using a transparent connection device of the present invention for connecting a first component made of a light absorbing material to a second component made of a light transmitting material, the first component having a high thermal conductivity at least in the connection portion, the connection method of the present invention includes the following steps: placing the first component on a first tool, placing the second component on a second tool, moving the first tool and the second tool relatively to a connection position where the first component and the second component at least partially abut, preferably at the respective connection portion, then applying a welding force to the first component and the second component, and irradiating the first component and the second component by a light source while applying the welding force, the first component and the second component are preferably irradiated at the connection portion, and then the connection method of the present invention includes moving the first tool and the second tool relatively from the connection position. By this method, a connection structure such as the above exemplary graphite electrode can be manufactured by a transparent joining technique. To avoid repetition, please refer to the above description regarding the resulting technical effects and advantages.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the connection method, the light source is a laser light source. Also, the welding force is preferably in a range where the components to be welded together and the thermal insulation are not damaged during the connection process. For both preferred embodiments, please also refer to the above description of the transparent connection device and its respective preferred embodiments.

[0031] Preferably, the step of placing the second component in the second tool includes the steps of placing the second component on the first component in the first tool, and relatively moving the first tool and the second tool to a transfer position where the second tool receives the second component. Thus, the second component is automatically moved into the second tool, which eliminates the respective manual step of placing the second component in the second tool. In this way, the method is further automated.

[0032] In general, with regard to the exemplary graphite electrode as the connection structure to be produced, the method is not limited to the use of graphite or a plastic matrix material filled with graphite as the first component, but it is particularly preferred to use the method in combination with any material as the first component that absorbs light and has a thermal conductivity in the range λ≧50 W / (mK), preferably λ≧75 W / (mK), particularly preferably λ≧100 W / (mK). Finally, the connection structure of the present invention comprises a first component made of a light-absorbing material and a second component made of a light-transmitting material, the first component having a high thermal conductivity at least in a connection portion connected to the second component. In this regard, reference is also made to the above description to avoid repetition.

[0033] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like elements and / or components. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the transparent connection device of the present invention in an initial state. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the transparent connecting device of the present invention in a contact position. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the transparent connection device of the present invention in a pressure position. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the transparent connection device of the present invention in a connection position at the start of a connection phase. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the transparent connection device of the present invention in a connection position intermediate a connection stage. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the transparent connection device of the present invention in a connection position at the end of a connection phase. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the transparent connecting device of the present invention in a removal or detachment position. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the connection method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the transparent connection device 1 of the present invention will be described. Typically, the transparent connection device is used to weld two plastic components together, for example in the field of the automotive industry, when manufacturing taillights, etc. The respective processes are also denoted as laser plastic welding, transparent welding or polymer welding, although the concept of connecting two plastic components is the same.

[0036] The basic principle of this joining or connecting method is to transmit laser radiation through one plastic component, i.e. the transmission component, to form a connection. Unlike standard welding, where energy is applied to the surface of the components to be connected, the transmission connecting method applies energy between two plastic components at their interface. This can be done by irradiating the complete connection part, connection structure or weld line simultaneously, i.e. by simultaneous light or laser transmission welding. Further methods are pseudo-simultaneous transmission welding or contour welding, in addition to other methods. Within the present invention, the use of the simultaneous method is particularly preferred.

[0037] However, the transparent connection device 1 provided by the present invention is adapted to different technical application fields, in particular to the technical field of graphite electrodes for use in electrochemical cells, for example in redox flow batteries. As will be explained below, the transparent connection device 1 is not limited to the manufacture of graphite electrodes or the processing of graphite, but may be used in combination with any component that has light absorbing properties and also has high thermal conductivity.

[0038] In this respect, since graphite has a thermal conductivity of λ=119-165 W / (mK), in particular all materials having a thermal conductivity in the range λ≧50 W / (mK), preferably λ≧75 W / (mK), particularly preferably λ≧100 W / (mK) are regarded as high thermal conductivity materials.

[0039] 1, there is illustrated a general configuration of a transparent connecting device 1. The transparent connecting device 1 comprises a first tool 10 mounted on a first support 12 for receiving a first component 3, i.e. for holding the first component 3 during use. Furthermore, the transparent connecting device 1 comprises a second tool 20 mounted on a second support 22 for receiving a second component 5, i.e. for holding the second component 5 during use.

[0040] As shown, the first tool 10 is a lower tool. The first support 12 may therefore be a lift platform or the like. The second tool 20 is therefore an upper tool, whereby the second support 22 may represent an upper mounting plate. The lift platform as the first support 12 and / or the mounting plate as the second support 22 are metal, preferably steel or aluminium.

[0041] The second support 22 is provided with an opening for fastening a light guide or laser fiber 30, which is connected with its opposite end to a laser source (not shown). The second tool 20 is present as a negative waveguide 24, i.e. a waveguide 24 defining a cavity inside it, into which the laser light 32 leaving the laser fiber 30 is reflected during subsequent use. At the exit end for the laser light 32, the waveguide 24 is provided with a transparent plate 26 for applying forces to the components 3, 5 connected by the second tool 20.

[0042] As mentioned above, the first support 22 is a lift platform. This feature allows the first tool 10 and the second tool 20 to be relatively movable. In this regard, it should be noted that other configurations for providing relative movement between the first tool 10 and the second tool 20 are also possible.

[0043] Furthermore, the first tool is provided with a layer of insulation 14 having a high thermal resistance. To qualify as a thermal insulator, the insulation 14 preferably has a thermal conductivity of λ≦2 W / (mK), preferably λ≦1 W / (mK).

[0044] Due to the process used, i.e. the light-transmitting joining technique, the insulator 14 must, with this low thermal conductivity, furthermore meet further requirements inherent to this technique. For example, the first component or the absorbing component 3 is heated during the process by the laser light. The insulator 14 must therefore have the respective thermal resistance as mentioned above. In other words, the melting point of the insulator must be sufficiently higher than the temperature to which the absorbing component 3 is heated during the joining method. For this purpose, the insulator is preferably t mp ≧200° C., preferably t mp It has a melting point of ≧250°C.

[0045] Furthermore, one must take into account the welding force applied during use to connect the two components 3, 5 together. The insulation 14, which must withstand this welding force and the resulting contact pressure, must therefore also have the respective resistance in this respect.

[0046] An exemplary material that meets the above requirements is a thermoplastic material, in particular polyetheretherketone (PEEK). PEEK, as a particularly preferred material for the insulation 14, has on the one hand a very low thermal conductivity of about λ=0.25 W(mK) and on the other hand a low thermal conductivity of about t mp = 335°C. Moreover, it is sufficiently resistant to the welding forces F normally applied, as mentioned above.

[0047] For the sake of completeness, the insulation 14 has a thickness of 1 mm≦t i ≦10cm, preferably 2.5mm≦t i ≦7.5 cm, particularly preferably 5 mm≦t i 5 cm. These thickness ranges ensure that heat transfer is at least impeded or reliably prevented. In this regard, the thickness of the insulation 14 depends on and correlates with the material used. For example, a material with high thermal conductivity may require a high thickness to impede or prevent heat transfer to the first support 12, while a material with low thermal conductivity, such as PEEK, may be present at a low thickness compared to a material with high thermal conductivity.

[0048] On top of the layer of insulation 14 there is a non-stick coating 16. The non-stick coating 16 is therefore present at least in the contact area of ​​the first tool 10 with the first component 3. The non-stick coating 16 preferably consists of polytetrafluoroethylene. This coating makes it possible to prevent the first component 3 from sticking to the first tool 10 in a process-safe manner, as will be explained below.

[0049] The structure and function of the adapted transparent connecting device 1 will now be described based on the exemplary fabrication of a graphite electrode as the resulting connecting structure 7 for use in an electrochemical cell or the like.

[0050] The exemplary graphite electrode first consists of a first component 3 made of a light or laser absorbing material. In this example, the first component 3 is a plastic matrix material filled with graphite particles. The second component 5 consists of a plastic that is transparent to the light or laser light used, providing for example a frame for later mounting the graphite containing first component 3 in a redox flow battery cell stack. Nevertheless, as mentioned above, any other material with high thermal conductivity can be used as the absorbing component 3, for example a plastic matrix material filled with another mineral.

[0051] In order to connect, i.e. join or weld, the first component 3 to the second component 5, the first component 3 and the second component 5 are first placed between a first tool 10 and a second tool 20. This state is shown in FIG. 1, where the first component 3 is placed on the first tool 10 and the second component 5 is placed on the first component 3. Nevertheless, any configuration may be chosen, such that the light, in particular the laser light, for heating the first component 3 in the connection structure or part comes from the second tool 20 and therefore first passes through the second component 5.

[0052] After the components 3, 5 are placed in the transparent connection device 1, the first tool 10 and the second tool 20 are moved relatively to a contact position as shown in Figure 2. Here, the first component 10 and the second component 20 abut each other at least partially, preferably at their respective connection portions.

[0053] Thereafter, a contact pressure is applied to the first component 3 and the second component 5, as shown by the welding force F in FIG. 3. The applied welding force F typically depends on the components to be connected. In particular, the welding force F must be selected to avoid damage to the components while at the same time forming a reliable connection between the components. Thus, the insulation 14 of the first tool 10 withstands the application of forces, in particular compressive forces, to the extent necessary to adequately connect the components to one another.

[0054] While maintaining the applied welding force F, the laser source is switched on and the first component 3 and the second component 5 are illuminated by laser light 32 emanating from a laser source (not shown) which passes through the laser fiber 30 to the waveguide 24 and further through the plate 26. This is shown in Figures 4 and 5. Preferably, the first component 3 and the second component 5 are illuminated at the connecting portion or structure.

[0055] The incident laser light 32 is absorbed by the bottom first component 3 and converted to heat within the material. Once the laser light 32 is converted to heat by the absorbing component 3, the thermal energy is transferred to the transparent component 5, allowing the transparent component to soften and melt creating a melt zone. By ensuring that the two components 3, 5 are in intimate contact, the thermal energy can be conducted to the transparent component 5.

[0056] In order to establish a reliable connection by the light-transmitting bonding technique, the transparent connection device 1 comprises a thermal insulator 14. By using this thermal insulator 14, it is possible to apply the transparent connection method for manufacturing the exemplary graphite electrode as described above. This is because the thermal insulator 14 at least inhibits or preferably prevents heat conduction, for example, to the first support 12. As a result, the loss of thermal energy is avoided and the connection process is facilitated. The two components 3, 5 are pressed against each other even after the laser light is switched off in order to harden the softened material, as shown in figure 6. In particular, recrystallization of the softened or melted material is achieved.

[0057] Finally, the first tool 10 and the second tool 20 are relatively moved from the connection position, as shown in Fig. 7. Now, the user can remove the manufactured connection structure 7, i.e., the exemplary graphite electrode with frame element for assembling the redox flow battery.

[0058] Based on the above description, the use of light-transmitting bonding technology to manufacture graphite electrodes is the first difference from the prior art and a particular technical advantage. In particular, the use of this technology makes the manufacture of graphite electrodes easy and cost-effective.

[0059] In this regard, and in particular with regard to the transparent connection device 1, it has been found that the transparent connection device 1 can further be used in any application in which a light or laser absorbing and highly thermally conductive material as a first component 3 is connected, i.e. joined or welded, to a light or laser transparent second component 5, preferably in any electrochemical application.

[0060] 8, a flow chart of one embodiment of the inventive connection method using a transparent connection device 1 for connecting a first component 3 made of a light absorbing material to a second component 5 made of a light transmitting material is illustrated. As mentioned above, the first component 3 has a high thermal conductivity at least in the connection portion. A high thermal conductivity is considered to be in the range λ≧50 W / (mK), preferably λ≧75 W / (mK), particularly preferably λ≧100 W / (mK).

[0061] A first method step i involves the placement of a first component 3 in the first tool 10. A second step ii, which may be performed before, after or simultaneously with the first step i, involves the placement of a second component 5 in the second tool 20. To further automate the method, the second step ii preferably comprises the steps of placing the second component 5 on the first component 3 in the first tool 10 (step ii1) and relatively moving the first tool 10 and the second tool 20 to a transfer position in which the second tool 20 receives the second component 5 (step ii2). By proceeding in this way, the second component 5 is automatically transferred into the second tool 20, thereby eliminating the respective manual steps.

[0062] After both components 3, 5 are properly positioned, in step iii, a step is performed of moving the first tool 10 and the second tool 20 relative to each other to a connection position in which the first component 3 and the second component 5 at least partially, preferably with their respective connection parts abutting each other.

[0063] In the connected position, in step iv, a welding force is applied to the first component 3 and the second component 5. Furthermore, the first component 3 and the second component 5 are illuminated by a light source while applying or maintaining the welding force. Each light source is preferably a laser light source.

[0064] Subsequently, in step v, a step of relative movement of the first tool 10 and the second tool 20 from the connection position is performed. After this step is performed, the user can remove or detach the obtained connection structure 7 from the transparent connection device 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 Transparent connection device 3. First Component 5. Second component 7 Connection structure 10. Tool No. 1 12 First Support 14 Insulation 16 Non-stick coating 20. The second tool 22 Second Support 24 Waveguide 26 Plate 30 Light guide or laser fiber 32 Laser light F Welding force

Claims

1. A transparent connection device (1) for connecting a first component (3) made of a light absorbing material to a second component (5) made of a light transmitting material by a light transmitting joining technique, comprising: a. a first tool (10) attached to a first support (12) that holds the first component (3); b. a second tool (20) attached to a second support (22) that holds said second component (5); Equipped with c. the first tool (10) and the second tool (20) are relatively movable; d. said first tool (10) is at least partially made of or comprises a layer of a thermal insulator (14) having a high thermal resistance, said thermal insulator (14) having a thermal conductivity of λ≦2 W / (mK) so as to at least prevent heat conduction; e. the first tool (10) further comprises a non-stick coating (16) adjacent to the insulation (14), whereby the non-stick coating (16) is present at least in the contact area of ​​the first tool (10) with the first component (3); f. the non-stick coating (16) comprises polytetrafluoroethylene; Transparent connection device (1).

2. The transparent connection device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the thermal insulator (14) has a thermal conductivity of λ≦1 W / (mK).

3. The heat insulator (14) is ｍｐ The transparent connection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, having a melting point of ≧200° C.

4. The transparent connection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thermal insulation (14) is a thermoplastic material.

5. The heat insulator (14) has a thickness of 1 mm≦t ｉ The transparent connection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, having a thickness in the range of ≦10 cm.

6. 3. The transparent interconnect device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first support (12) and / or the second support (22) are at least partially made of metal.

7. 2. A connection method using the transparent connection device (1) according to claim 1 for connecting a first component (3) made of a light absorbing material to a second component (5) made of a light transmitting material, the first component (3) having a high thermal conductivity in the range of λ≧50 W / (mK) at least in the connection portion, the connection method comprising: a. placing said first component (3) in said first tool (10); b. placing said second component (5) in said second tool (20); c. moving said first tool (10) and said second tool (20) relative to one another to a connecting position in which said first component (3) and said second component (5) at least partially abut each other; and then d. applying a welding force to the first component (3) and the second component (5) and illuminating the first component (3) and the second component (5) with a light source while applying the welding force; and then e. moving the first tool (10) and the second tool (20) relatively from the connection position; Including, how to connect.

8. The connection method according to claim 7 , wherein the light source is a laser light source.

9. The step of placing the second component (5) in the second tool (20) comprises: b1. Placing the second component (5) on the first component (3) in the first tool (10); b2. moving the first tool (10) and the second tool (20) relative to each other to a moving position where the second tool (20) receives the second component (5); The connection method according to claim 7 or 8, comprising:

10. 9. The connection method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the thermal conductivity of the first component (3) is in the range λ≧75 W / (mK).

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