The mechanical properties and microstructure of SiC ceramics, hot pressed by simultaneously adding nano-SiC and oxides (MgO + Al2O3 + Y2O3) or nitrate salts (Mg(NO3)(2) + Al(NO3)(3) + Y(NO3)(3)) as additives, were evaluated. The oxide additives system slightly influenced the mechanical properties of the ceramics, while the addition of nano-SiC lead to finer microstructure, and 5 vol.% nano-SiC changed the fracture mode from intergranular type to transgranular type. The ceramics with nitrate salts had fine, equiaxed grains with an average grain size larger than that of the system added oxides, thus inducing lower Viker's hardness and flexural strength, while the presence of crystalline YAG phase improved the fracture toughness by 54.7%. Also, an observed increase in grain growth-with decreasing weight fraction of liquid and the grounded grain morphology in this system-confirmed a diffusion-controlled growth mechanism. Although the sample with the least amount of additives has the lowest relative density and largest grain size, its flexural strength did not drastically decrease. The influence of nano-SiC on the fracture toughness in the nitrate additive system was negligible. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.