Joining AlN ceramics by ZnO–Al2O3–B2O3–SiO2 (ZABS) glass-ceramic at low temperature

The ZnO–Al2O3–B2O3–SiO2 (ZABS) glass powder was designed and innovatively employed to join AlN ceramics. The crystallization, thermal expansion and wettability behavior of the ZABS glass and glass-ceramic were investigated. The results shows that Zn3B2O6, ZnSiO4 and Zn4B6O13 were precipitated after heat treatments at different temperature, respectively, resulting in a variation in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the ZABS glass ceramic. Then guided by the wetting behavior on the AlN ceramic substrate, the joining of the AlN ceramics by ZABS glass at various temperatures and holding times were conducted. Notably, Zn3B2O6 was identified to be the primary product in the joints bonded at temperature of 700–800 °C due to the crystallization within the glass and no discernible reaction was observed between the substrate and the interlayer, while ZnSiO4 was observed at the periphery of Zn3B2O6 after 750 °C. Moreover, the crystalline phase Zn3B2O6 gradually grew with the temperature and holding time increasing as the glassy phase gradually diminished, resulting in a reduction of the strength and reliability of the joints. The optimal flexural strength of the joints was 156 ± 11MPa at 700 °C for 30min. The reason for the high strength can be attributed to the interactions between the glass precipitated crystalline phase interlocking each other and the glass phase tightly bonded with the crystalline phase.