Joining method of silicon nitride to carbon steel

We investigated the method of joining silicon nitride having on its surface a thin layer of active silicon metal to carbon steel. The active silicon layer is formed through the thermal dissociation of silicon nitride (Si3N4) into silicon (Si) and nitrogen gas (N-2). The active silicon layer is directly joined to carbon steel via an induced eutectic melting reaction between the silicon and iron (Fe) found in carbon steel, or via brazing of two materials using general brazing metal such as Ag-Cu alloys. This joining process does not require the use of expensive active brazing alloys such as Ag-Cu-Ti alloys or a sputtering method designed to coat the active metals on surface of silicon nitride.