Microstructural design and properties of LaCoO3/La-2(Zr,Y)(2)O7-delta composites

LaCoO3-delta/La-2(Zr,Y)(2)O-7-based composites were designed in view of thr ee main properties: electrical conductivity, thermal expansion and resistan ce to thermal cycling. Composition and processing conditions were investiga ted on the basis of an experimental plan according to the Taguchi method. T he phase distribution was estimated from image analysis and related to elec trical and thermo-mechanical behavior. Results indicate that an homogeneous and fine grained phase distribution is essential in order to obtain materi als with the desired thermal expansion, electrical properties and thermomec hanical properties.