The sintering characteristics and mechanisms of stoichiometric alkaline earth metal (AE)-doped lanthanum chromites, including the second phase of AECrO(4) with low-melting point in air, (La(1-x)AE(x)CrO(3), AE = Ca and Sr, 0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.3), have been discussed. When x less than or equal to 0.2, the sintering properties of La1-xCaxCrO3 are lower than those of La1-xSrxCrO3. However, the reverse results were observed at x = 0.3. The mixtures of LaCrO3 and AECrO(4) showed low sintering properties. It was found that the reaction of the second phases with LaCrO, started at temperatures lower than the melting point. Thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) in the temperature range from 50 to 1000 degreesC were 8.6 x 10(-6)/degreesC for LaCrO3, 13.1 x 10(-6)/degreesC for CaCrO4, and 17.5 X 10(-6)/degreesC for SrCrO4. The second phases with larger TEC among the LaCrO3 particles disturb the sintering characteristics of the LaCrO3 particles during the high temperature heat treatment. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.