TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Method: The method further involves providing a first substrate and a second substrate; applying the glass in a layer between the first and second substrates to form an assembly; heating the assembly to a bonding temperature, above a glass transition temperature of the devitrifying glass, selected to cause the glass to bond the first substrate to the second substrate; and while heating the assembly, also applying opposing forces to opposite sides of the assembly to increase density of the layer of devitrifying glass. In the method, the step of cooling the glass involves placing molten glass in contact with a cooling material, where the cooling material is selected from the list water, a liquid with a boiling point below a crystallization temperature of the molten glass, and/or a cooling substrate. The step of providing ingredients comprises ingredients that have a combined concentration of alkali oxides of less than 100 parts per million (ppm). The constituents of the glass are selected to cause the glass transition temperature to lie in 550-800 degrees C. The step of heating the assembly to a bonding temperature involves heating the assembly above a first crystallization temperature of the devitrifying glass so as to induce substantial crystallization of the glass. The constituents of the glass are selected to cause the first crystallization temperature of the glass to lie in 700-1000 degrees C. The step of applying the glass involves applying the glass as frit in a frit paste. The frit has an average particle size of 5-80 microns, and a size distribution of 0.5-100 mu m. The step of applying opposing forces is performed to achieve a density of the layer that is at least 90%. Preferred Components: The glass has constituents containing 30-50 mol.%, preferably 42-43 mol.% silicon oxides, 0-10 mol.%, preferably 4-5 mol.% boron oxides, 25-45 mol.%, preferably 33-35 mol.% zinc oxides, 3-15 mol.%, preferably 5-6 mol.% aluminum oxides, 0-3 mol.%, preferably 0.5-1 mol.% titanium oxides, and/or 10-20 mol.%, preferably 12-13 mol.% magnesium oxides. The glass is a devitrifying glass.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred Assembly: In the assembly, the bond between the first substrate and the second substrate is a hermetic seal between the substrates. The composition is as the glass component in a frit paste. The average glass particle size is 5-80 mu m.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The substrates are silicon. EXAMPLE - No suitable example is given.