Abstract: To investigate the formation mechanism of calcium hexaluminate (CaAl₁₂O₁₉, CA₆), the analytically pure alumina and calcia used as raw materials were mixed in CaO/Al₂O₃ ratio of 12.57:137.43 by mass. The raw materials were ball-milled and shaped into green specimens, and fired at 1300–1600°C. Then, the phase composition and microstructure evolution of the fired specimen were studied, and a first principle calculation was performed. The results show that in the reaction system of CaO and Al₂O₃, a small amount of CA₆ forms at 1300°C, and greater amounts are formed at 1400°C and higher temperatures. The reaction is as follows: CaO·2Al₂O₃ (CA₂) + 4Al₂O₃ → CA₆. The diffusions of Ca²⁺ in CA₂ towards Al₂O₃ and Al³⁺ in Al₂O₃ towards CA₂ change the structures in different degrees of difficulty. Compared with the difficulty of structural change and the corresponding lattice energy change, it is deduced that the main formation mechanism is the diffusion of Ca²⁺ in CA₂ towards Al₂O₃.