Densification and phase transformation of mullite and alumina composites prepared from cordierite and aluminium hydroxide mixture were investigated. X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of mullite since the early stage of aluminium hydroxide addition to the cordierite. Above 40 wt.% of aluminium hydroxide addition, the presence of spinel and mullite phases can be detected by X-ray diffraction and confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that the amounts of spinel as well as mullite present increased with increasing aluminium hydroxide concentration at the expense of cordierite. These analyses were completed by density measurements and scanning electron microscopy observation. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.