Abstract In order to improve the mechanical properties of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (cBN) and titanium carbide (TiC) composites (cBN-TiC), this study developed a two-step sintering process. The relationship between microstructure (structure and chemical composition) and mechanical properties for the cBN-TiC composites were investigated. The results indicated that less byproducts were contained in the cBN-TiC composites fabricated by the two-step sintering than those by a conventional sintering. In addition, no byproducts or defects were observed between cBN and TiC grains. The mechanical-test results confirmed that the two-step sintering indeed promoted the hardness and transverse rupture strength of the cBN-TiC composites.