A structure comprising silicon-containing ceramic body and an active metal-containing metal layer as a brazing layer or a metallization layer bonded to and disposed on the surface of the ceramic body. A reaction layer of a compound containing constituent elements of the ceramic body and the active metal is formed in the interface between the ceramic body and the metal layer. The reaction layer is present ahead the outer circular edge of the metal layer. In particular, when the ceramic body is silicon nitride with the active metal being titanium, the reaction layer comprises a first reaction layer composed mainly of titanium nitride and a second reaction layer composed mainly of titanium silicide. The first reaction layer is present ahead the outer circular edge of the second reaction layer. According to the brazed structure and the metallized structure, the characteristics of the metal layer containing the active metal, such as bonding strength, can be improved with good reproducibility.
Superhard nanocomposite coatings which are applicable to coating contact surfaces on substrates in a variety of industrial processes are disclosed. In a typical embodiment, the superhard nanocomposite coating includes a refractory metal silicon nitride coating layer having silicon in a concentration of from about 6 atomic percent to about 12 atomic percent.
