Active　brazing　was　used　to　join　high　purity　alumina　ceramic　and　Kovar　alloy　with　nickel　and　titanium　foils.　A　sandwich　structure　was　observed　in　the　solder,　an　alpha-Ti　solid　solution　belt　at　mid　part　and　two　Ti2Ni　intermetallics　belts　at　sides.　Thermal　cyclic　tests　were　undertaken　for　the　brazed　joints　at　temperature　ranging　from　200　to　600　degreesC.　Shear　strength　of　joints　were　tested　before　and　after　thermal　cycles.　The　results　showed　that　shear　strength　increased　dramatically　after　40　thermal　cycles.　The　determination　and　calculation　of　residual　stress　in　joints　indicated　that　thermal　cycles　reduced　residual　stress　in　joints　observably　due　to　similar　effects　as　annealing,　and　resulting　in　improved　strength.　(C)　2002　Elsevier　Science　Ltd　and　Techna　S.r.l.　All　rights　reserved.