Abstract: A powder containing substantial amounts of alpha phase silicon carbide suitable for use in subsequent sintering operations to obtain a high-density, high-strength ceramic product is described. The powder may consist substantially entirely of alpha silicon carbide or may consist of mixtures of alpha and beta phase silicon carbide. The silicon carbide powder of the present invention has an average particle size of from about 0.10 to about 2.50 microns and may contain maximum amounts of the following materials by weight based upon 100 parts of powder.______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 2.00 Free Silicon 0.25 Iron 0.50 Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals 0.50 Total Metal Oxides 3.75 ______________________________________Sinterable powders and methods of producing sintered products from the powders are also described.