Carbon nanotube/ceramic composites have been in the spotlight thanks to their excellent properties. Sintering is the vital part of ceramics fabrication in terms of reliability, however sintering the carbon nanotube (CNT) based ceramic composites is a challenging task. In this study, interfacial bonding of silane functionalized CNT with silica ceramic is investigated by a non-firing sintering process. CNTs are first treated by a mixed acid with the aid of a silane 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES), which improves the chemical bonding and dispersibility of CNT in ceramic bodies. The extent of APTES chemical functionalization and mechanical property of CNT/silica ceramic composites are characterized using Raman spectrometer, FT-IR analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and three-point bending strength measurement. Results show that composites are successfully prepared without sintering with stable CNT-silica interface, superior dispersibility, and good mechanical properties. (C) 2018 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.