The effect of hot isostatically pressed (HIP) sintering on the microstructural property of alumina compacts fabricated by slip casting of a commercial alumina powder was experimentally investigated. The fully dense translucent alumina compacts consisting of micron-sized grain could be fabricated by atmospheric sintering at 1350 degrees C with soaking time of 2 h and further HIP-sintering at 1300 degrees C for 2 h in argon atmosphere. It was found that the increase in the relative density of the sintered alumina compacts was reasonably consistent with the Mackenzie-Shuttleworth model. Linear shrinkage of sintered compact was suppressed due to the controlled grain growth, resulting in a good translucency of the fabricated compacts. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.