A tape-casting process was used to prepare various Al2O3-TiC green tapes, from which laminated and functionally gradient Al2O3-TiC materials (FGM Al2O3-TiC) were produced by cutting, stacking, and laminating the material, removing the binder, and hot-pressing the green bodies. The bending strength of the FGM Al2O3-TiC composites was not much less than that of the laminated Al2O3-TiC composites. However, the fracture toughness was >50% higher; the fracture toughness of the FGM composite sintered at 1700 degreesC was 9.43 MPa .m(1/2) . This increased toughness was attributed to the stress distribution that was caused by variations in the composition of the FGM composite layers, The present results demonstrate that the FGM design is a useful method for modifying the mechanical properties of ceramic composites.