Four different commercial Si3N4 powders were hot pressed with the addition of La2O3 and Y2O3 as sintering aids. Two powder processing routes were set up: addition of sintering aid powders by ultrasonic dispersion, addition of nanodispersed amorphous additive species by chemical coprecipitation. The following aspects were analyzed: characteristics of starting powders and powder mixtures, with reference to surface modification (electrokinetic behaviour and surface properties) induced by the powder treatment; sintering behaviour of the powder mixtures; influence of raw powders characteristics and processing route on microstructure and properties of dense materials. The microstructural characteristics of hot pressed materials (grain size, aspect ratio, grain boundary phases) were found to be dependent on powder characteristics and its process history. Significant variation of the mechanical properties (Young modulus, hardness, toughness and strength) were related to microstructural features. Strength, for example, ranges from 600 to 1200 MPa at room temperature and from 400 to 1000 Wa at 1200 degreesC; toughness ranges from about 4 to about 6 MPam(1/2).