In most cases, functionally gradient materials have been designed to produce a desirable property gradient in a material or in a joint region. In this paper, the concept of a transient gradient structure is introduced. The function of the intentional property discontinuities in these multilayer interlayers is to facilitate processing of assemblies and materials combinations that would be difficult to process using conventional bonding approaches. Specifically, the methods make use of a thin or partial layer of a low melting point transient liquid phase to facilitate bonding via brazing, yet produce refractory joints. Several mechanisms for consuming the transient liquid former are outlined, and examples of interlayer designs that exploit these mechanisms are presented. Specific results from experiments joining alumina to alumina via Cu/Pt/Cu, Cu/Ni/Cu, Cu/Nb/Cu and Sn/Nb/Sn interlayers are presented
