Simultaneous synthesis and sintering of hexagonal alpha-Ti1-xAlx(N) (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.08) solid solutions, which contain a small amount of nitrogen, have been performed by a self-propagating high-temperature combustion method under a nitrogen pressure of 4 MPa. Dense materials (similar to99% of theoretical) prepared directly from a mixture of elemental (Ti and Al) powders reveal homogeneous microstructure composed of fine grains (12-16 mum). alpha-Ti1-xAlx(N) (x = 0.02; Ti0.98Al0.02N0.26) exhibits a three-point bending strength or, of 390 MPa, a Vickers hardness H-v of 9.24 GPa, and a fracture toughness K-IC of 4.89 MPa(.)m(1/2); their mechanical properties are much improved by doping Al into alpha-Ti(N), in comparison with those (sigma(b) = 245 MPa, H-v = 9.02 GPa, and K-IC = 3.77 MPa(.)m(1/2)) of alpha-Ti(N) fabricated under the same conditions.