Sintering of porous strontium doped lanthanum manganite-yttria stabilized zirconia composite in controlled oxygen atmosphere at 1400 °C

► Bulk density of porous LSM-YSZ composites increases with decrease in PO2 during sintering. ► Formation of La2Zr2O7 phase in LSM-YSZ composite is accelerated in lower sintering PO2. ► Presence of 10-25% La2Zr2O7 decreases LSM-YSZ thermal expansion coefficient by ∼1.2 × 10−6 °C−1.