Functional gradient ceramics (FGC) are novel ceramic materials that integrate structure and function

enabling the material’s composition and properties to continuously vary as needed. FGCs have broad application prospects in fields such as aerospace and biomedical engineering. Lase

r directed energy deposition (LDED) technique overcomes the obvious limitations of conventional preparation methods in terms of sintering deformation and transition interfaces

which achieves regionally controllable properties of FGCs. However

optimizing the performance of different components simultaneously through constant parameter fabrication is not feasible. Therefore

the effect of scanning speed on the composite ceramic materials with various proportions in Al

2

O

3

–ZrO

2

gradient ceramics was investigated. By determining the optimal scanning speed for each composite ceramic

the optimal fabrication of Al

2

O

3

–ZrO

2

gradient ceramics with variable parameters was achieved. The results show that under low scanning speed conditions (200 mm/min

300 mm/min)

the α-Al

2

O

3

columnar crystals exhibit obvious growth orientation tendency

and macroscopic cracks are apparent in composite ceramics with high ZrO

2

content. The gradual increase of scanning speed helps to reduce the grain size and thus improve the mechanical properties of the fabricated sample

but too high scanning speed leads to more internal defects and decreases the performance. The variable scanning speed fabricating process effectively suppresses the macroscopic cracks with high ZrO

2

content in the gradient region. In addition

the macro and micro cracking defects at the bonding interface of Al

2

O

3

–ZrO

2

gradient ceramics with constant parameters are improved. The flexural strength at the transition interface of optimally manufactured Al

2

O

3

–ZrO

2

gradient ceramics is improved by 21.37%.