A TZP matrix composite with in situ grown TiC inclusions

A TiO2–Y2O3–ZrO2 solid solution was prepared by the coprecipitation–calcination technique. The resulting powder of +100 m2/g specific surface area was mixed with a phenol-formaldehyde resin whose in situ thermal decomposition resulted in carbon formation. The reaction of the carbon and Ti coming from the solid solution gave TiC evenly distributed within the system. Hot-pressed samples showed hardness higher than conventional TZP bodies.