Design of a New Zirconia-Alumina-Ta Micro-Nanocomposite with Unique Mechanical Properties

2Y-TZP/Al2O3 hybrid nanoparticles prepared by CO2 laser covaporization ( CoLAVA) were wet mixed with biocompatible lamellar Ta metal particles ( 20 vol%) and consolidated by spark plasma sintering. The microstructure and mechanical properties of this novel ceramic-metal composite have been studied. The achieved results demonstrate that both the homogeneity of the 2Y-TZP/Al2O3 nanocomposite matrix and the reinforcement with a micrometer-sized ductile phase are prerequisites for the successful design and fabrication of ceramic-metal composites with high strength ( 1300 MPa), enhanced fracture toughness ( 16 MPa.m(1/2)), and improved low-temperature degradation resistance.