Microstructural design and properties of LaCoO3/La2(Zr,Y)2O7-δ composites

LaCoO3-delta/La-2(Zr,Y)(2)O-7-based composites were designed in view of three main properties: electrical conductivity, thermal expansion and resistance to thermal cycling. Composition and processing conditions were investigated on the basis of an experimental plan according to the Taguchi method. The phase distribution was estimated from image analysis and related to electrical and thermo-mechanical behavior. Results indicate that an homogeneous and fine grained phase distribution is essential in order to obtain materials with the desired thermal expansion, electrical properties and thermomechanical properties.