The assembled composite is then hot pressed, either under vacuum or inert gas such as argon, in metal dies coated with colloidal boron nitride, or graphite dies sprayed with boron nitride powder, at pressures of 6.9 to 13.8 MPa (1000-2000 psi) and temperatures of 1050???-1450??? C. Additional glass in the form of powder may also be inserted between each layer as it is laid if necessary to achieve