Platinum supported on a medium surface area beta-SiC catalyst was successfully used for the catalytic combustion of model carbon particles compared to a low surface area alpha-SiC. In addition, the beta-SiC-based catalyst showed no deactivation as a function of cycling tests while a strong deactivation was observed on the alpha-SiC-based catalyst. Deactivation by platinum encapsulation was proposed to explain the combustion activity loss of the Pt/alpha-SiC catalyst. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.