Dense machinable α-SiAlON/BN composites were fabricated by hot-pressing using turbostratic boron nitride (tBN) obtained from nitridation of melamine diborate. The tBN was added to the starting powders, or introduced as a coating that formed in situ on α-Si3N4 carrier powders during nitridation, and was subsequently converted to hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) during hot pressing by solution repre...