A chemically stabilized $eta$-cristobalite, which is stabilized by stuffing cations of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Al^{3+}$, was prepared by a solution-polymerization route employing Pechini resin or PVA solution as a polymeric carrier. The polymeric carrier affected the crystallization temperature, morphology of calicined powder, and particle size distribution. In case of the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution process, a fine $eta$-cristobalite powder with a narrow particle size distribution (average particle size : 0.3$mu extrm{m}$) and a BET specific surface area of 72 $m^2$/g was prepared by an attrition-milling for 1 h after calcination at 110$0^{circ}C$ for 1h. Wider particle size distribution and higher specific surface area were observed for the $eta$-cristobalite powder derived from Pechini resin. The cubie(P1-to-tetraganalb) phase transformation in polynystalline $eta$-cristobalite was induced at approximately 18$0^{circ}C$. Like other materials showing transformation toughening, a critical size effect controlled the $eta$-to-$alpha$ transformation. Densifed cristobalite sample had some cracks in its internal texture after annealing. The cracks, occurred spontaneoulsy on cooling, were observed in the sample with an average grain sizes of 4.0 $mu extrm{m}$ or above. In case of the sintered cristobalite having a composition of CaO.$2Al_2O_3$.40SiO$_2$, small amount of amorphous phase and slow grain growth during annealing were observed. Shear stress-induced transformation was also observed in ground specimen. Cristobalite having a composition of CaO.2Al2O3.80SiO2 showed a more sensitive response to shear stress than the CaO.$2Al_2O_3$.40SiO$_2$ type cristobalite. Shear-induced transformation resulted in an increase of volume about 13% in $alpha$-cristobalite phase on annealing for above 10 h in the case of the former composition.