Abstract: A ceramic consisting essentially of from 1 to 15 percent of glass and 99 to 85 percent of a mixture of particulate Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and particulate ZrO.sub.2 is disclosed. ZrO.sub.2 is present in a sufficient amount usually from 1/4 to 6 percent base on the of the ZrO.sub.2 and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, to strengthen the ceramic significantly, by comparison with an otherwise identical ceramic where the particulate ZrO.sub.2 is replaced either by the glass or by particulate Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. The glass constitutes a vitreous phase bonding the particulates into a dense, gas impervious structure, and can be a calcium magnesium silicate glass containing from 45 to 80 percent of SiO.sub.2, from 8 to 55 percent of CaO and MgO, and not more than 15 percent of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.