A new adhesion process of glass to metal was developed based on the redox reaction without oxidation of the metal surface. PbO-based glasses were strongly adhered to nickel metal at low temperature (400-500 degrees C) in a low-oxygen atmosphere (< 0.1 p.p.m.). The interfaces between glasses and metal were analysed by SEM-EDS. It was found that the reaction layer and lead metal were formed by the redox reaction at the interface. In the case of the adhesion of PbO-based glasses containing CuO to nickel, the main reduced product in the glass was Cu2O, and lead was not detected. The redox reaction was simulated by a thermodynamic equilibrium theory; the results agreed with the analysis by SEM-EDS.