Disclosed are ceramic articles comprising a sintered phase ceramic composition containing, as expressed on a weight percent oxide basis: a(Al.sub.2TiO.sub.5)+b(ZrTiO.sub.4)+c(Y.sub.2O.sub.3)+d(YPO.sub.4) wherein "a, b, c, and d" represent weight fractions of each component such that (a+b+c+d)=1.00 and wherein 0.5