Impact of chemical treatment by alkali of raw, dehydroxylated at 600 °C and intensively milled illite clay on structure, phase composition and some properties of sintered at lower temperatures ceramic materials were studied using DTA, X-ray diffraction (XRD), as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry. DTA and XRD results show that alkaline activation of illite clay by sodium hydroxide leads to the slight structural changes of illite characterized by structural water losses showed from DTA and negligible decrease of illite and kaolinite, as well dolomite diffraction peaks on XRD. Additional treatment, intensive milling and in particular dehydroxylation, contributes to the considerable changes in intensities of all effects on DTA-curves, especially for dehydroxylation endo-peak. It is shown that chemical treatment promotes the formation of rather amorphous and homogenous structure of sintered at 600°C respective ceramic samples and leads to the growth of the compressive strength.