Composites with very thin second‐phase interlayers were made by painting zirconia tapes with a slurry that contained alumina and a fugitive polymer. Warm uniaxial pressing was used to produce microstructures that contained either straight or wavy interlayers. Through the use of the fugitive polymer and a carefully selected sintering temperature, porosity was introduced into the second phase. Samples that were tested in bending displayed high strengths (540–580 MPa), whereas examination of polished and fractured test bars revealed crack deflection at weak interlayers.