Abstract:The joining of porous Si 3 N 4 to dense Si 3 N 4 ceramics has been successfully performed using mixed RE 2 O 3 (RE = Y or Yb), Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , and α-Si 3 N 4 powders. The results suggested that the α-Si 3 N 4 powders partly transformed into β-SiAlON and partly dissolved into oxide glass to form oxynitride glass. Thus, composites of glass/β-SiAlON-ceramic formed in the seam of joints. Due to the capillary action of the porous Si 3 N 4 ceramic, the molten glass solder infiltrated into the porous Si 3 N 4 ceramic side during the joining process and formed the "infiltration zone" with a thickness of about 400 µm, which contributed to the heterogeneous distribution of the RE-Si-Al-O-N glasses in the porous Si 3 N 4 substrate. In-situ formation of β-SiAlON in the seam resulted in a high bonding strength. The maximum bending strength of 103 MPa and 88 MPa was reached for the porous Si 3 N 4 /dense Si 3 N 4 joints using Y-Si-Al-O-N and Yb-Si-Al-O-N glass solders, respectively.