A method of forming one or more ceramic layers on the substrate in which one layer containing ceramic particles is laminated onto the surface of the substrate that is completely formed. The layer that is applied to the substrate contains voids between the ceramic particles. The particles are sintered into a coherent mass, thereby to form the ceramic layer or layers by heating the layer while simultaneously applying pressure to the layer in a direction normal to the surface of the substrate until the sintering is complete. The layer is heated to a temperature that is below the pressureless sintering temperature of the particles and the temperature is sufficient to allow the movement of the particles upon application of the pressure to force the particles into physical contact with one another and such that the voids are substantially removed.