Abstract: A sintered, fine grained, polycrystalline, essentially fully dense, essentially single phase Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 body is prepared by sintering Chromium Sesquioxide (Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3) at essentially the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure (P.sub.O.sbsb.2) for the formation of Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 from its elements at the sintering temperature. To achieve optimum theoretical density a second metal oxide dopant such as MgO, capable of controlling the grain size, is added.In addition, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 bodies are rendered more stable, and thus have a longer life, by maintaining over the body an atmosphere which is essentially equilibrium P.sub.O.sbsb.2 for the formation of Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 from its elements at that temperature.