Among many densification routes for silicon nitride, HIP(hot isostatic pressing) is becomming more popular these days, mainly due to the fact that it can produce highly reliable products with superior mechanical properties. This study involves in sintering of silicon nitride followed by HIP which requires no canning. Various property changes curing sintering and HIP are observed and analyzed in terms of microstructural changes. Porosity decrease and enhanced interlocking of grains by HIP are considered to be the major causes for improved mechanical properties of silicon nitride.