Manufacturing, microstructure and properties of novel reaction bonded Mo 2 C materials derived from polymer/reactive filler mixtures were investigated. Mo powder was used as a filler to react with carbon bearing decomposition products of poly(methyl- and phenysiloxanes) during pyrolysis in nitrogen atmosphere. Microcrystalline composites with the filler reaction products Mo 3 C, Mo 3 Si, Mo 5 Si 3 embedded in a silicon oxycarbide glass matrix could be formed with complex geometry owing to near net shape polymer/ceramic conversion. Depending on the precursor composition and pyrolysis conditions, ceramic hard materials with a density up to 97% theoretical density, a hardness of 10 GPa, a Young’s Modulus of 250 GPa, a fracture toughness of 5 MPam 1/2 and a flexural strength of 330 MPa were obtained.