Bulk specimens of highly dense CdTe ceramics were fabricated through compaction of vapor-deposited nanopowder. The microstructure, texture and other physical properties of the compacted CdTe were studied. The specimens were found to consist of grains of a certain crystallographic orientation. A two-component texture composed of < 2 2 0 > axial and {0 0 1} < h k 0 > components was observed. The experimental results give evidence that dynamic recrystallization occurs under compressive stress in the temperature range from 20 to 200 degrees C. The ceramic specimens show extremely high-specific electrical resistivity on the order of 10(10) Omega cm. Their mechanical hardness is 1450 MPa, which is more that three times higher than the corresponding value of melt-grown CdTe. The compacted CdTe has rather high transmission in the wavelength range of 6-25 mu m. These properties make this material interesting for the fabrication of infrared optical elements and for potential use as ionizing-radiation detectors. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.