All samples show a typical anisotropic nacre-like microstructure (FIGURE ). The relatively direct shaping process used allows the desired microstructure to be obtained by simple FAST, with the orientation of the platelets being initiated during powder pressing . The use of glass phase and alumina nanoparticles plays a role in slowing down the grain growth during sintering, which helps to maintain the dimensions of the alumina platelets and thus to have a fine microstructure in the composite . However, in the context of this work, it is clear that a fine and dense microstructure, i.e. a low grain growth of the platelets, can be obtained using neither a glassy phase nor nanoparticles, as already shown by Evers et al. .