Basic results on the development of an electrically conductive, wear- and corrosion-resistant ceramic composite material are presented. From a closer examination of the dependence of the electrical conductivity on composition in the binary system ZrB 2 -B 4 C, we determined the percolation threshold at which an interconnected network of electrically conductive phase arises: for the system investigated, at a critical volume fraction of about 10 up to 25 vol.% ZrB 2 , the electrical conductivity increased rapidly and, above 40 vol.% ZrB 2 , an electrical conductivity similar to metals was observed (σ e = 10 5 -10 7 S m - 1 ). Based on ZrB 2 as major component and mainly B 4 C as minor component, a ceramic composite material was obtained which exhibits a metallic electron conductivity, a relative high resistance against oxidation and promising mechanical properties.