A method of the controlling the chemical and physical characteristics of a body formed from powder precursors, including measuring a predetermined amount of a first generally spherical particles, adhering smaller second particles to the respective first particles to define composite particles, forming the composite particles into a green body, and sintering the green body to yield a densified body. The second particles adhered to the first phase particles are substantially uniformly distributed and a respective first particle defines a first particle diameter that is typically at least about 10 times larger than the smaller diameter defined by a respective second particle. The composite particles define a predetermined composition.