To　fabricate　metal-ceramic　multilayer　hollow　functionally　gradient　materials　(FGMs)　that　might　meet　the　requirement　of　repeated　service　and　long　working　time　of　high　temperature　burners,　such　as　spacecraft　engine,　the　microstructure　and　properties　of　composites　of　stainless　steel　and　partially　stabilized　zirconia　were　investigated.　Samples　of　different　proportions　of　stainless　steel　(316L)　to　partially　yttria-stabilized　zirconia　(PSZ)　were　fabricated　by　powder　extrusion　and　sintering　method.　Shrinkage,　relative　density,　microstructure,　micro-Vickers　hardness,　compression　strength,　bending　strength,　fractographic　morphology,　Young＇s　modulus,　coefficient　of　thermal　expansion,　thermal　diffusivity　and　thermal　conductivity　and　electric-resistivity　of　gas-pressure　sintered　samples　with　different　proportions　of　stainless　steel　were　measured.　The　results　shows　that　threshold　of　ceramic　matrix　composites　(CMCs)　and　metal　matrix　composites　(MMCs)　are　approximately　equal　to　50　vol.%　316L　and　60　vol.%　316L,　respectively,　and　there　is　some　difference　between　mechanical　properties　and　physical　properties　in　transient　point.　(C)　2004　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.