Effects of 10% ZrO

2

and 2%

4%

6%and 8% SiO

2

as additives on microstructures and properties of composite plate fabricated by self-propagating high temperature synthesis were investigated in Al-Fe

2

O

3

system by SEM

XRD and tensile testing.The results reveal that the grain is soundly distributed in surfaces of composite layer

and Fe can be observed in the ceramic layer.Ceramic layer is mainly composed ofα-Al

2

O

3

、FeAl

2

O

4

、Al

2

SiO

5

and ZrO

2

by XRD analysis.It is also found that the porosity in ceramic layer and shearing strength of the interface reach 10.3% and 10.2MPa with 2% SiO

2

and 10%ZrO

2

addition

which are reduced by 23.7% and improved by 36%than those of ones without additives

respectively.