The surface metallurgy of a green sheet may be controlled during processing to provide an increased resistance to low strength structural failure of the metal-ceramic interface under an input-output pad structure and increased pin-pull strength of input-output pads on alumina multilayer ceramic substrates. The surface area on a green sheet in the region where an input-output pad is to be screened is roughened in order to increase the contact surface area between the green sheet and the input-output pad. The mechanical interlock between the metal-ceramic interface is strengthened by the increased number of bonding points between the green sheet and the input-output metallurgy and the use of different screening materials.