Nanometric powdered TixTa1-xC0.5N0.5-based cermets were fabricated using a mechanically induced self-sustaining reaction and consolidated by spark plasma sintering. Highly dense cermets were obtained, and their chemistry, microstructure and mechanical properties were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, image analysis, microindentation and nanoindentation. The microhardness was found to depend directly on the contiguity and size of the ceramic hard particles. The samples synthesised at the lowest temperature (1150 degrees C) exhibited more homogeneous microstructures and smaller ceramic particles and the best combination of microhardness and fracture toughness. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.