A low-carbon Al2O3-C composite refractory was prepared with white fused alumina, flake graphite, active α-Al2O3 micron-sized powder, Al powder and Si powder as raw materials, and h-BN (in mass fraction 0%, and 3%) as additives. The effect of h-BN addition on the microstructure, physical properties and oxidation resistance of Al2O3-C refractories at different nitriding temperatures was investigated. The results show that the addition of h-BN promotes the formation of SiC whiskers. The cold compressive strength and cold modulus of rupture of the samples with h-BN addition after nitriding at 1 400 ℃ are 6% and 10% greater than those of the samples without h-BN addition, respectively. Also, the oxidation resistance of the samples with h-BN addition is significantly improved. Among those samples, the oxidation resistance of the samples with h-BN addition after nitriding at 1 500 ℃ is improved by 21%, compared with the samples without h-BN addition.