Components made from advanced ceramics materials, because of their thermomechanical and chemical properties, have several advantages over traditional steel parts, making them well suited for use in severe operating environments. In particular, silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics, because of their stiffness and resistance to corrosion, are being considered for use in rolling contact elements such as bearings and contact races. In addition, when combined with rare-earth oxide sintering aids such as yttria (Y2O3), silicon nitride ceramics have high-temperature strength which makes them excellent candidates for components such as rotors and blades in advanced turbine engines.