A composition of matter comprising 0.01 to 35% by weight of Al2O3, having a length of 10-20 μm and a surface altered by wet etching, 0.01 to 98% by weight of SiC, having a length of 10-20 μm and a surface altered by dry etching and 0.01-15% by weight of kaolin, altered by treatment with Na2SiF6, with the above constituents being blended into a SiC/Al2O3 composite. Alternative embodiments are methods of producing the compositions described above. Further embodiments include products made by the process described above.