To apply a thermal barrier coating, the coating materials must satisfy the basic requirements. This paper explains composite powder processing and the characterization of sintered materials. The composite powders were prepared by two types of method: conventional ball-milling and chemical precipitation. The morphology of the powder differed with the processing method. In chemically precipitated powder, the surface of zirconia was coated with LaPO4. The samples were fabricated from these powders, using the PECSed method. The flexural strength of the nanocomposites was decreased with an increase in the amount of LaPO4 due to its poor mechanical properties. However, the thermal properties, such as thermal conductivity and high temperature stability, were lower and more stable than that of the monolith.

Keywords: 3YSZ, LaPO4, powder processing, mechanical properties, thermal properties.