t is well known that alumina ceramics undergo a time dependent wear transition during sliding wear. The transition, which is associated with 1-2 orders of magnitude increase in specific wear rate, involves a change from mild wear to intergranular fracture. The transition is strongly grain size dependent, with the time to the transition decreasing with grain size. However, there is a minimum grain size that can be achieved in fully dense alumina using commercially viable processing. Alternative strategies for reducing grain size and increasing toughness are through the addition of a fine second phase, with SiC and ZrO₂being the most promising. The resultant composite not only has finer grain size, but also exhibits additional toughening mechanisms. This paper reports on the microstructural control in alumina, zirconia toughened alumina and alumina-silicon carbide composites. The grain size and residual stress distribution are related to the damage accumulation mechanism that occur during frictional contact, in particular the surface specific dislocation activity.