Fabrication and characterization of zirconia-based composites containing dispersed monazite particles

The performance and characteristics of ceramic components are considerably influenced by the characteristics of precursor powder used to prepare the materials, The outstanding properties possessed by advanced ceramics are achieved through exceptional composition and microstructure that require careful control throughout the successive stages of the applied processing. The present research aimed originally to obtain and describe the new composite systems in yttrium stabilized tetragonal-zirconia (Y-TZP) combined with monazite (LaPO|*bsub*|4|*esub*|) that possesses very low coefficient of thermal conductivity with maintaining its good mechanical properties. This class of composite might be used for novel high-temperature structural application such as thermal barrier coating and/or mechanical parts. Monazite has been synthesized using wet chemical processing and heat-treatment method. Mixed raw powders have been consolidated by pulse electric current sintering (PECS, also called as SPS) method, which could provide dense materials within a shot sintering time, By using this novel method, reaction between zirconia and monazite was successfully inhibited. Fabrication and sintering characteristics as well as microstructure will be presented in relation to their mechanical and thermal properties.