Diffusion bonding of dissimilar ceramics can be accomplished by the application of pressure only while the ceramics are at a temperature at which their expansion rates are the same. A process for manufacturing magnetic head cores is disclosed where a magnetic ferrite is diffusion bonded to a non-magnetic ceramic by heating the core pieces to the expansion rate crossover temperature and then applying the diffusion bonding pressure. The pressure is removed either before or after the bonded pieces are cooled.