The effect of neodymium, cerium, lanthanum, and yttrium chromites, added in amounts of not more than 8%, on the sintering of magnesia in air and in vacuum has been studied. On addition of rare-earth chromites, the initial magnesia is sintered to a density of 0.98. By their sintering action, these chromites fall into the following sequence: neodymium chromite - lanthanum chromite - yttrium chromite - cerium chromite. The highest density (0.98 - 0.99) and the lowest porosity (1-2%) are obtained on addition of 2% of neodymium chromite to magnesia. The process of sintering of magnesia is accompanied by an increase in the size of periclase crystals from 12 to 38-56 μm. © 1994 Plenum Publishing Corporation.