Crack deflection in composites with very thin interlayers

Composites,vith very thin second-phase interlayers were made by painting zi rconia tapes with a slurry that contained alumina and a fugitive polymer. W arm uniaxial pressing was used to produce microstructures that contained ei ther straight or wavy interlayers. Through the use of the fugitive polymer and a carefully selected sintering temperature, porosity was introduced int o the second phase. Samples that were tested in bending displayed high stre ngths (540-580 MPa), whereas examination of polished and fractured test bar s revealed crack deflection at weak interlayers.