Abstract: A silicon carbide sintered body for a mechanical seal which has independent pores having an average pore diameter of from 10 to 40 .mu.m and a porosity of from 4 to 13 vol %. The mechanical seal includes a stationary sliding ring and a rotary sliding ring, with at least one of the rings being the silicon carbide sintered body. The silicon carbide sintered body is preferably made of .alpha.-silicon carbide powder.