$Al_2O_3$/SiC particulate composites were fabircated by pressureless sintering. The dispersed phase was SiC of which the content was varied from 1.0 to 10 vol%. Three SiC powders having different median diameters from 0.28 $mu extrm{m}$ to 1.9 $mu extrm{m}$ were used. The microstructure became finer and more uniform as the SiC content increased except the 10 vol% specimens, which were sintered at a higher temperature. Under the same sintering condition, densification as well as grain growth was retarded more severly when the SiC content was higher or the SiC particle size was smaller. The highest flexural strength obtained at 5.0 vol% SiC regardless of the SiC particle size seemed to be owing to the finer and more uniform microstructures of the specimens. Annealing of the specimens at $1300^{circ}C$ improved the strength in general and this annealing effect was good for the specimens containing as low as 1.0 vol% of SiC. Fracture toughness did not change appreciably with the SiC content but, for the composites containing 10 vol% SiC, a significantly higher toughness was obtained with the specimen containing 1.9$mu extrm{m}$ SiC particles.