Device comprising at least one shaped body made of metal

Abstract

The invention relates to a device comprising at least one shaped body (10) made of metal, in particular a housing part, wherein the metal has a melting temperature (Ts) and an evaporation temperature (Tv), wherein the body (10) has a shaped surface (16) having a roughness (Rz1) and has a first microstructure (13), characterised in that the surface (16) has, on at least one melted and re-solidified surface region of the surface (16), a roughness (Rz2) that is lower than the roughness (Rz1) resulting from the shaping.

Description

[0001] R. 418239

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] Description

[0004] title

[0005] Device comprising at least one shaped metal body

[0006] State of the art

[0007] In the context of housings for electronic devices, it is known to use an adhesive between the housing parts in their joint to make such a joined housing as airtight as possible. In connection with this so-called polymer assembly and joining technology, these adhesives are used specifically to provide different functions. Alternatively, solid gaskets are also used as seals.

[0008] In addition to achieving the aforementioned function of sealing the housing against media such as gases or liquids, components specifically arranged within the housing can also be cooled down using such an adhesive, i.e., these adhesives support the heat dissipation away from such an electronic component.

[0009] Another function of such a sealant is to shield other electrical devices from electromagnetic radiation emanating from the housing, which could affect or impair these other electronic or electrical devices. Furthermore, such an adhesive can enable structural bonding of two or more components, forming a virtually seamless unit. Different adhesive systems are used to fulfill these various tasks. This means, for example, that epoxy resins, polyurethanes, or silicones are used for bonding. For these adhesives to reliably perform their intended function, they must adhere permanently to the surfaces that are important for the sealing function. Such a sealant is described in R. 418239.

[0010] - 2 -

[0011] The required long-term durability is influenced by environmental conditions. These include, for example, fluctuations in temperature, humidity in general, and the various levels of moisture exposure that depend on the area of ​​application. The environmental conditions of savannas differ from those on the North Atlantic coast. For instance, temperature changes per day and humidity levels over the course of a year differ significantly between these two regions, which also applies to chemical degradation processes in metals. Salty air at a seaside can lead to considerable degradation damage in such a casing, whereas the environment of a savanna produces hardly any degradation damage.Areas with frequent rainfall, or where water crossings are a realistic scenario during normal use, present the additional challenge of preventing water from penetrating the housing. Therefore, a strong adhesive bond between the adhesive and the housing or housing component surface is essential. To achieve this bond, plastic surfaces have traditionally been activated using a plasma under atmospheric pressure. Metallic surfaces, such as those of housings, have typically been treated using wet chemical processes.

[0012] Even when using solid seals – whether they are, for example, cellulose-based or made of polymeric plastic such as silicone plastic – a continuous, gapless contact, undisturbed by contamination between or on the joining partners, is of utmost importance.

[0013] Conventional wet-chemical cleaning methods often have only a limited cleaning effect. This means, for example, that the aforementioned organic soiling cannot be completely removed from the body's surface. Such cleaning also only takes place on the surface; using a non-neutral cleaning agent, a certain level of cleaning quality can be achieved down to a depth of a few nanometers. However, the associated high equipment costs are a disadvantage, and both the procurement and disposal of the cleaning chemicals are also associated with expenses. The effect of such chemical cleaning is so incomplete that soiling in the immediate vicinity... (R. 418239)

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[0015] Contaminants can migrate back to the surface of the metal body through pores, micropores, cracks, and microcracks that were previously not completely cleaned or removed, particularly through the skin adjacent to the surface, especially casting skin or mill scale. This migration of contaminants—if it occurs at all—is time-dependent. Thus, these contaminants can re-emerge to the surface relatively quickly, meaning that even with the application of sealant and subsequent closure of the housing, a tight seal can only be partially guaranteed.

[0016] When treating metallic surfaces that exhibit spontaneous passivation properties, such as aluminum, chromium, nickel, titanium, zinc, and silicon, the goal is to achieve a highly stable yet reactive oxide layer with minimal residual contamination. This residual contamination includes, for example, traces of organic compounds.

[0017] One object of the invention is to further reduce residual contamination on metallic surfaces compared to known methods and results. In addition, the corrosion resistance of the metallic surface is to be increased. This is of great advantage both when using sealants and when using solid gaskets.

[0018] Embodiments of the invention.

[0019] According to a first aspect of the invention, a device is provided comprising at least one shaped metal body, in particular a housing part, wherein the metal has a melting point. The body has a shaped surface with a roughness and a first microstructure. The surface is intended to have a roughness on at least one molten and resolidified area of ​​the surface that is lower than the roughness resulting from the shaping process. This has the advantage that the surface thus modified is more finely structured and its resistance to leakage is increased. Whereas, for example, surfaces shaped by a casting or cutting process have a roughness that is affected by contact with the molding tools and contaminants, as well as by the respective associated R. 418239

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[0021] Since the manufacturing process is characterized by corrosion events, which makes it relatively easy for corrosion to undermine a seal – be it a sealant or a solid seal. However, if the surface has at least one melted and resolidified area with a roughness lower than the roughness created by the forming process, the resistance to undermining of a seal is significantly increased.

[0022] Resistance to corrosion under a seal is significantly increased when the molten and resolidified metal adjacent to the roughened surface area exhibits a secondary microstructure formed after molding. This secondary microstructure—located between the surface and the primary microstructure, and potentially finer than the primary microstructure—provides an effective barrier against corrosion of the body and corrosion under the seal due to its surface area across the width of the seal. Long-term testing revealed that an entire sealing zone between such two bodies, including a zone of secondary microstructure, remained free of corrosion. Corrosion only occurred beyond this sealing zone within the primary microstructure.

[0023] To achieve high resistance to corrosion, the second microstructure is specifically designed to have a structure with structural elements having lengths of less than 10 nanometers. Furthermore, the re-solidified metal of the body, covering the surface area, should have a layer thickness of up to 8 micrometers, preferably between 1 and 8 micrometers, and most particularly between 2 and 4 micrometers.

[0024] The melting process should seal at least one cavity on or in the surface of the body. A cavity has the disadvantage that, through capillary action, it facilitates the transport of liquids that promote corrosion of the metal. Therefore, cavities such as shrinkage cavities, porosities, cracks, or scratches should be sealed. The same applies to openings where molten or partially solidified molten material overlaps other molten areas during the primary forming process. Such openings extend, for example, in a linear or wedge-shaped pattern on the surface of the R. 418239.

[0025] - 5 -

[0026] The body and can facilitate the transport of corrosion-promoting liquid through capillary action. For this reason, it is designed that such an opening is smoothed by melting and solidifying.

[0027] It is particularly advantageous if the surface area is continuously and completely melted and resolidified, especially across the entire width of a seal.

[0028] The aforementioned advantages apply particularly to a device whose shaped metal body is sealed against another body by a seal – especially a sealant or solid gasket. The seal can be pressed between the first body and the second body as a counterpart. The second body can be designed like the first, provided, for example, that it is to be manufactured in the same way. Pairings of bodies are also readily possible in which the second body is made of a non-metal – especially a plastic – preferably with a plastic molding surface, which is created accordingly by contact with a mold surface and by solidification in that mold during molding. The mold is, for example, a cavity in an injection mold.

[0029] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the figures shown below:

[0030] They show:

[0031] Figure 1 shows a metal body, in particular a housing part,

[0032] Figure 2 shows different process steps.

[0033] Figure 3 shows an enlarged cross-section (partially) corresponding to the section line in Figure 1 ,

[0034] Figure 4 schematically shows a ray cross-sectional area, R. 418239

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[0036] Figure 5 shows a device for energizing a body,

[0037] Figure 6 shows an exemplary arrangement of two bodies and a sealant to form a tight housing.

[0038] Figure 6A shows an exemplary arrangement of two bodies and a solid seal to form a tight housing.

[0039] Figure 7 shows a beam cross-sectional area in the shape of a general rectangle,

[0040] Figure 8 shows a beam cross-sectional area in the shape of a special rectangle, here as a square.

[0041] Figure 9 shows a beam cross-sectional area in the shape of an ellipse.

[0042] Figure 10 shows how melting zones, here circular, are produced successively by superimposing a linear and a circular movement.

[0043] Figure 11 shows how melting zones are produced successively by superimposing two linear movements.

[0044] Figures 12 to 19 show different examples of material defects before and after energization.

[0045] Figure 1 shows a metal body 10. This body 10 can, for example, be a housing component of a housing (not shown) to be formed using this body 10. The metal of the body 10 has a melting point Ts and an evaporation point Tv. This body 10 is formed in a step S10, Figure 2. This forming process in step S10 can comprise or include different steps depending on the type of forming of the body 10. If this body 10 is, for example, a sheet metal product, then step S10 of the forming process can, for example, include rolling a blank into a sheet, and furthermore, for example, cutting a blank, which may be deep-drawn to form a cavity. If the body 10 is formed, for example, by casting a primary mold, see R. 418239

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[0047] Formation can, for example, include providing a mold, pouring / pouring a liquid material (the metal) into the mold, applying pressure to the poured material, introducing a release agent into the mold beforehand, releasing / removing / ejecting the solidified body 10 from the mold, and other steps. In connection with the forming process—whether it is a primary forming process or a secondary forming process is less important—an initial microstructure 13 is formed during the shaping of the body 10. Through the forming process and the associated solidification of the metal into the body 10, a solid surface 16 is created. Through the processes or process steps of forming, the surface 16 acquires a roughness Rz1, which can also be referred to as the initial roughness Rz1.

[0048] Part of this surface 16 is designed to later serve as a sealing surface 19 of the body 10. According to Figure 1, this defined sealing surface 19 is an area located between the two dashed lines 17 and 18. One function of this sealing surface 19 is to receive a sealant (in the case of a lower housing part) or to make contact with this sealant (in the case of an upper housing part) and to form a tight seal with the sealant.

[0049] As part of the process, a further step S13 provides for the surface 16 to be treated at least in one area by means of an energy beam 22. This area corresponds to the surface that will later be the sealing surface 19. Figure 1 shows an energy beam 22, which can be, for example, a laser beam. This energy beam 22 is directed or emitted onto the surface area by an energizing unit 24 (which can be, for example, a laser beam unit). Through the energizing in step S13 by means of the energy beam 22, the surface 16 is treated in a further step S30.The surface area, which will later be the sealing surface 19, is heated by the energy beam 22 in such a way that the metal of the body 10 containing the surface area melts due to a local increase in the temperature TM of the metal, thereby creating a roughness Rz2 (second roughness) of the surface area that is equal to or less than the roughness Rz1 created by the forming process in step S10. The melted, immediately R. 418239.

[0050] - 8 -

[0051] The adjacent metal of the body 10 forms or has the surface 16 of the surface area and thus the surface area.

[0052] The roughness Rz2 of the surface area can be determined after the molten metal has solidified. In other words: after heating or melting by the energy beam 22 in step S30, the previously molten metal solidifies in step S40.

[0053] Figure 1 shows various surface defects of the body 10 and its surface 16. For example, Figure 1 shows two cavities 25, one porosity 26, one crack 27, and two scratches 28. These defects—cavities 25, porosity 26, crack 27, and scratch 28—are referred to here as cavities, each with an opening 29, one of which is explicitly labeled. The proposed method provides that at least one cavity located directly on the surface 16 has an opening 29, and that the cavity is sealed by the energy beam 22. This occurs through the aforementioned melting process, whereby, ideally, the molten metal connects (flows together) the edge regions of the opening 29, and after solidification, seals or eliminates the opening.It is also possible that the melted edge areas of an orifice 29 somewhat equalize the surface 16, or that the individual cavity, for example, only slightly alters its shape.

[0054] As can be seen from Figure 1, defects such as a void 25 and a scratch 28 of the body 10 are not eliminated, since these two defects are not located or present in the defined surface area or the subsequent sealing surface 19. During this treatment of the body 10 by the energy beam 22, the treated metal, or irradiated, energized metal, is heated to such an extent that the temperature T16 of the defined surface area or the subsequent sealing surface 19 is lower than the vaporization temperature Tv of the metal. It follows implicitly from the above that the temperature T16 is higher than the melting temperature Ts. After the metal of the body 10 immediately adjacent to the surface area is melted by increasing the temperature T16 above the melting temperature Ts, the subsequent step S40 involves the solidification of the molten metal and the formation of a second microstructure 31 from the first microstructure 13.R.418239.

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[0056] Figure 3 shows an enlarged view (detail) of a section corresponding to the representation in Figure 1. Figure 3 depicts the first microstructure 13, followed on its surface 16-facing side by a thin layer with a thickness t31, characterized by the second microstructure 31. As can be seen in Figure 3, the first microstructure 13 solidified to form a microstructure 33. During the formation of this microstructure 33, structural elements 35 were formed, having lengths I35 between 100 nanometers and 10 micrometers. An example of a length I35 is shown in Figure 3. In contrast, the second microstructure 31 solidified to form a microstructure 37 with structural elements 39 having lengths of less than 10 nanometers.After step S40 of solidification, the molten metal of the body 10, which has a surface area, should have a layer thickness t31 of the second structure 31 (remelting depth) that is up to 8 micrometers thick, preferably a layer thickness t31 in a range between 1 micrometer and 8 micrometers, most particularly between 1 micrometer and 4 micrometers.

[0057] Figure 4 schematically depicts a beam cross-sectional area 40. This beam cross-sectional area 40 corresponds, for example, to the area over which energy is introduced onto the surface 16, the surface area, or the subsequent sealing surface 19. Such a beam cross-sectional area 40 can be, for example, on the order of half a square millimeter. This beam, or energy beam 22, is designed such that a large portion 42 of the beam cross-sectional area 40 exhibits a uniform (essentially uniform) maximum intensity of the beam, or energy beam 22. This type of energy distribution over the beam cross-sectional area 40 is also referred to as a "top-head" or "flat-top" beam. This design of the beam cross-sectional area and the intensity of the surface energy does not, in particular, correspond to a so-called Gaussian profile.This largest part 42 of the beam cross-sectional area 40, which causes the metal to melt and has the (essentially) uniform highest intensity of the energy beam 22, has a maximum dimension d42 that is greater than 250 micrometers, preferably greater than 700 micrometers. R. 418239.

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[0059] A ray cross-sectional area 40 or the largest part 42 of the ray cross-sectional area 40 can each have at least an approximate shape of a rectangle, in particular a square, or a circle, as shown in Figure 4, or an ellipse.

[0060] During step S13, and thus during the energizing of the surface area by means of the energy beam 22, it is provided that the energy beam 22 is operated in pulsed mode. Such pulsed operation is characterized by the fact that the irradiated, illuminated surface or area is energized intermittently. This pulsed operation is characterized by an on-time and a subsequent pause, followed by another on-time, and so on. It is provided that an on-time tE22 is at least one nanosecond, preferably between one nanosecond and 250 nanoseconds. An on-time tE22 between 30 and 120 nanoseconds is particularly preferred.

[0061] The energy beam 22 transfers energy E via an energy transfer point 45 (Fig. 4) to the surface area 16. The transferred energy E, used to melt the metal of the body 10 immediately adjacent to this surface area, causes the adjacent metal to melt by increasing its temperature TM. This process generates, for example, a single spot 50; compare, for example, Figures 1, 4, 7-11. Due to the aforementioned timing and movement of the energy transfer point 45 across the surface or surface area 16, this results in a trail of spots 50, referred to here as a melting trail 53; compare also Figures 7, 8, and 9. At least one melting zone 80 is generated.

[0062] It is particularly preferred that the surface area of ​​the surface 16 is continuously and completely melted and preferably that the entire melted and resolidified metal adjacent to the surface area has the second structure 31.

[0063] Figure 5 shows a device 100 for energizing the body 10. This figure illustrates the immediate range 110 of the energizing unit 24. As can be seen from Figure 5, the range 110 of the energizing unit is significantly smaller than the outer contour 113 of the R. 418239

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[0065] Body 10. This means that the energizing unit 24 with its radiation emission (not shown here) is smaller than at least a maximum length Ix, max, ly, max of the surface area in one axis direction x, y. Therefore, it is provided that the energizing unit 24 is moved across the surface area by a transport device 120. The transport device 120 can, for example, be designed as a two-axis transport unit, as shown in Figure 5. However, the transport device can also be designed as a "robot with an arm", which typically has a stationary base to which an arm is attached and whose movement is controlled, allowing the arm, with one end and an energizing unit 24 optionally attached there, to reach any desired location on the body 10.

[0066] Figure 5 further shows a control unit 640, which is connected to the device 100 by means of a data transmission line or data transmission device 650 such that the device 10 can be controlled via this data transmission device. This control unit 640 is accordingly designed so that all steps of the method can be executed or that it is programmed for use in a method of this type. For this purpose, the control unit 640 has, by way of example, a machine-readable storage medium 620 on which a computer program 600 is stored, or on which the computer program 600 is stored for use in one of the methods described here. The computer program 600 is designed so that it can execute all steps of one of the methods, or that it is programmed so that it can execute a method as described here when it is run on a computer.

[0067] Figure 6 shows a housing 200, which is made from a lower body 10 and an upper body 10 and other materials. Both bodies 10 have a flange 201 on an outer edge (compare with Figure 1), which is arranged to fit each other. Both flanges 201, or rather their surfaces, are machined according to the method described here. A sealant 220 is applied to one of the two flanges 201 by means of a dispensing device (not shown), step S50. This sealant 220 is located on the surface area 16 that was previously prepared by the method described here. After the sealant 220 has been applied to one body 10 (underside of housing R. 418239)

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[0069] For example, the other body 10 (e.g., the upper housing surface) is placed onto the sealant 220 (step S60). After closing the housing 200 by placing the upper body 10 on top, a closing force F is applied to one or both flanges 201 (contact force, low-pressure force) to bring the two bodies 10 into a defined target position relative to each other. Accordingly, the metal body 10 is coated with a sealant 220 on its surface area, and then the sealant 220 is pressed between the body 10 and another body 10 as a counterpart. The body 10 is preferably made of an aluminum-containing alloy, e.g., AlSi, and is particularly pressure-cast.

[0070] A modification of the embodiment shown in Figure 6 differs in that the surfaces 16 of the two bodies 10, processed according to the method described here, are covered with a flat gasket, for example, rectangular in cross-section, or a flat gasket (solid gasket; closed band shape corresponding to the contour of the surfaces 16), for example, rectangular in cross-section, is inserted between them (as shown in principle by Figure 6). Such a flat gasket can be made, for example, of paper, plastic – e.g., silicone or rubber – or other materials such as metal. A flat gasket can also include a seal having a circular cross-section, such as an O-ring.

[0071] Figure 6A shows another embodiment of a housing 200, which is largely constructed like the modified embodiment shown in Figure 6. The surfaces 16 of the two bodies 10 are machined according to the method described here. The surfaces 16 of the two bodies 10 are again covered with a solid seal 221. The solid seal 221 has a profiled structure. In Figure 6A, three ribs 222, which are integrally formed and preferably circumferential, extend from a closed band-shaped region of the solid seal 221 with a rectangular cross-section towards the surfaces 16 of the two bodies 10. The number of ribs 222 can also be one, two, or more than three, for example, four or five. This solid seal 221 can, for example, be made of a plastic – e.g.,Made of silicone or rubber - or silicone-containing plastic. R. 418239.

[0072] - 13 -

[0073] In connection with the exemplary embodiments for the housings 200, it should be mentioned that a housing can also comprise a metal body 10 (housing part) which is machined according to the method described herein, and a body (housing part) which is essentially made of a non-metal, such as a plastic (e.g., a fiber-reinforced polyamide). Such a plastic body typically has a surface (plastic molding surface) produced by a plastic molding process, in particular by a plastic injection molding process, which is not further processed. A seal can then be applied as a paste / liquid sealant 220 and arranged between the bodies. Alternatively, the seal can be applied as a solid seal 221 and arranged between the bodies.

[0074] Regarding the exemplary embodiments of the housings 200 and bodies 10 (housing parts), it should be noted that a housing part or body 10 (or both bodies 10) can alternatively be machined from a solid metal block. Such a metal block typically does not have a flange 201, but rather a surface section 16, which can be part of a larger surface of the metal block.

[0075] Figure 7 refers to the beam cross-sectional areas 40 mentioned above. This Figure 7 shows a beam cross-sectional area 40, which is designed as a general rectangle. The largest dimension d24, which represents part of the characteristic of this rectangular beam cross-sectional area 40, is also shown here.

[0076] Figure 8 shows another shape of the beam cross-sectional area 40, which has already been mentioned above, namely the shape of a special rectangle, here as a square. Here too, the largest dimension is d24, which is the diagonal of the square.

[0077] Figure 9 again shows a beam cross-sectional area 40, which here has an ellipse shape. This ellipse has two axes, the larger of which is shown. This larger axis is again the largest dimension d24.R. 418239

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[0079] Figures 7, 8, and 9 each show several beam cross-sectional areas 40 and the melting zones 80 generated by them. In total, several superimposed melting zones 80 are depicted. This superimposition indicates that in the three figures mentioned, the melting zone 80 "top left" is formed as the first melting zone 80. Corresponding to a superimposition of a pulsed first movement and a pulsed second movement (compare with Figure 5, x-axis, y-axis), which is, for example, a so-called feed movement, the individual melting zones 80 are offset from one another. Accordingly, Figure 10, for example, shows how melting zones 80, here circular, are produced successively. The recognizable essentially circular movement of the energy transfer point 45 results from two superimposed movements.Firstly, the direct movement of the transmission point 45 is a circular movement, which is a circular movement of the energizing unit 24. This is the unit from which either the energy beam 22 emerges or, for example, a deflecting element (not shown here), which could be, for example, a rotating mirror. The second movement results from a forward movement of the energizing unit 24, which can be linear, as shown, for example, in Figure 5 in the direction of the x-axis.

[0080] Figure 11 shows a second embodiment of two superimposed movements. The first movement is a movement of the energy transfer point 45 in the direction of the Y-axis (Figure 5). The second movement is a further linear movement in the X-axis (Figure 5).

[0081] Figures 12 to 19 show four different examples of surface defects, as already mentioned in relation to Figure 1.

[0082] Figure 12 shows a crack 26, which is connected via an opening 29 of the surface 16 and also to the sealing surface 19 to be produced later. Figure 13 shows the crack 27 after it has been closed by melting the adjacent metal at the opening 29 using the method proposed here. R. 418239

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[0084] Figure 14 shows a void 25 (which could also be called a pore) that also transitions into the surface 16 via a small channel (not specified here) and an opening 29. This void contains a substance that, in this case, is not part of the body 10 in the sense that it corresponds to the metal of the body 10. Rather, this substance is, for example, a residue of a release agent or another undesirable substance (impurity), such as slag from the metal. After the proposed method was carried out, it can be seen here as well that the opening 29 was eliminated by melting the metal that bounded the opening 29, and accordingly, a substantially undisturbed surface 16 or sealing surface 19 has now been created.

[0085] Figure 16 shows another material defect of the body 10, here referred to as overlap 30. This overlap 30 can be created, for example, by introducing metal of a relatively low temperature into a mold (not shown) during the molding process after step S10. At that time, the metal was in a transitional state between molten and solidified material and was then overflowed by another portion or stream of the molten metal. This created a kind of transition point where two surfaces abut each other (overlap 30). In the area of ​​surface 16, or later sealing surfaces 10, something like an opening 29 formed. The proposed method melts and thus eliminates this opening 29 of the overlap 30.

[0086] Figure 18 shows a relatively short crack 27 compared to the representation in Figures 12 and 13, which was even completely eliminated by the method proposed here (melting the mouth 29), Figure 19.

[0087] As can be seen from Figures 12 to 19, structure 13 has formed as intended, and after the solidification of the molten metal, the second structure 31 has formed.

Claims

R. 418239 - 16 - Claims 1. Device comprising at least one shaped body (10) made of metal, in particular a housing part, wherein the metal has a melting temperature (Ts) and an evaporation temperature (Tv), wherein the body (10) has a shaped surface (16) with a roughness (Rz1) and a first microstructure (13), characterized in that the surface (16) has a roughness (Rz2) on at least one melted and resolidified area of ​​the surface (16) which is less than the roughness (Rz1) resulting from the shaping.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the melted and resolidified metal adjacent to the surface area with roughness (Rz2) has a second structure (31) formed after shaping.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the second structure (31) is located between the surface (16) and the first structure (13).

4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the second structure (31) is finer than the first structure (13).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the second structure (31) has a microstructure (37) forming structural elements (39) with lengths below 10 nanometers.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the re-solidified metal of the body (10) comprising the surface area has a layer thickness (t31) of up to 8 micrometers, preferably between 1 micrometer and 8 micrometers, and most particularly between 2 micrometers and 4 micrometers. R. 418239 - 17 - 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first structure (13) is designed such that it has a microstructure (33) with structural elements (35) with lengths (I35) between 100 nanometers and 10 micrometers.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the re-solidified metal of the body (10) having the surface area closes a cavity.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the cavity is a void (25) or a porosity (26) or a crack (27) or a scratch (28).

10. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that an opening (29) of an overlap (30) is melted and solidified and thereby the opening (29) is leveled.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface area is continuously and completely melted and resolidified.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the melted and resolidified surface area of ​​the surface (16) of one shaped body (10) made of metal is sealed against a further body (10) with a seal - in particular a sealant (220) or a solid sealant (221).

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the seal is pressed between one body (10) and the other body (10) as a counterpart.

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the further body (10) is designed like the other body (10).

15. Device according to one of the preceding claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the further body (10) is made of a non-metal -R. 418239 - 18 - in particular made of plastic, preferably with a plastic molding process surface.

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