In the last decades, the fabrication and characterization of functionally graded materials (FGMs) obtained through the combination of oxide-based ceramics with stainless steel have received considerable attention for several applications, such as aerospace, armour, energy, optoelectronics, biomedicine, etc. [Kieback et al., 2003; Mahamood et al., 2012]. The basic idea is to obtain stepwise or continuous composite structures with a gradual change in the material composition [Kieback et al., 2003]. In particular, the stepwise FGM configuration is composed of two different layers with prescribed compositions placed on the opposite sides of the sample with a progressive transition in the interlayers composition, whereas a continuous gradient is produced in the second case. Beneficial effects can be correspondingly generated, since residual thermal stresses are decreased as the composition of the material is modified in a progressive way.

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