the microstructure and mechanical properties of seeded and ball-milled dry gels prepared by boehmite sol-gel method were discussed. The densification of seeded gels was improved with increasing seed content namely the number of seed The number of seed was 1.09, 3.35, 5.72${ imes}$1012/cm3 boehmite when seeded with 1, 3, 5wt% respectively The ball milled gel contained about 0.5wt% seed and the number of seed was 4.72${ imes}$1012/cm3 boehmite. The sintered density of 5wt% seeded gel was below 80% when sintered at 1300$^{circ}C$ for 1h. On the other hand that of ball milled gel was very improved and reached to 97% In the case of 3wt% seeded gels the density over 97% was attained when sintered at 1500$^{circ}C$for 1h. and the grain of the sintered body was several micrometers in size. However the sintered body of ball milled gel showed grain size of submicrometer when sintered at 1300$^{circ}C$ for 1h. And this specimen showed highest harness value of 1900kg/mm2 The fracture toughness increased with increasing sintering temperature. The sintered body of ball milled gel showed the largest grain size and the highest fracture toughness without regard to sint-ering temperature.