Phosphate　glass　is　advantageous　as　a　low　temperature　sealing　material,　especially　in　solar　cells,　micro-motor　systems,　vacuum　engineering　and　the　like,　but　the　poor　chemical　stability　restricts　its　wide　application,　especially　in　humid　environments.　To　overcome　this　shortcoming,　a　certain　proportion　of　silicon　nitride　is　added　to　tailor　the　structural,　chemical　and　thermal　properties　of　phosphate　glass.　The　results　show　that　the　addition　of　silicon　nitride　improves　the　water　resistance　and　remarkably　reduces　the　mass　loss　in　humid　environments　from　60　to　3　wt%　after　120　h.　With　the　addition　of　silicon　nitride,　the　softening　temperature　of　glass　is　in　the　range　of　330–372　°C.　In　particular,　the　coefficient　of　thermal　expansion　of　phosphate　glass　can　be　tailored　ranging　from　14.9　×　10　−6　K　−1　to　17.4　×　10　−6　K　−1　by　adjusting　the　content　of　silicon　nitride,　making　it　thermally　compatible　with　various　substrates.　These　findings　provide　useful　information　on　the　development　of　reliable　low-temperature　sealing　glass.　©　2018　Elsevier　Ltd　and　Techna　Group　S.r.l.