Abstract: Glass infiltrated metal oxide infrastructures are formed by providing a glass which is suitable for infiltration and compatible with the metal oxide infrastructure; heating the glass in a nitrogen rich environment; and infiltrating the metal oxide infrastructure with the glass. Stress corrosion in a glass infiltrated metal oxide infrastructure is avoided or reduced by heating a glass composition under a nitrogen gas atmosphere before infiltrating the metal oxide infrastructure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite of a porous metal oxide infrastructure and a glass infiltrated in the pores of the infrastructure, wherein the method comprises at least the following steps: providing a glass which is suitable for infiltration and compatible with the metal oxide infrastructure; heating the glass in a nitrogen rich environment; and infiltrating the metal oxide infrastructure with the glass. The invention also relates to a method for avoiding or reducing stress corrosion in a glass infiltrated metal oxide infrastructure, comprising heating a glass composition under a nitrogen gas atmosphere before infiltrating the metal oxide infrastructure. The invention further relates to a glass infiltrated metal oxide infrastructure obtainable by any of these methods.