Article abstract
Nature Materials 2, 38 - 42 (2002)
Published online: 15 December 2002 | doi:10.1038/nmat793
Subject Categories: Composites | Mechanical properties | Nanoscale materials
Single-wall carbon nanotubes as attractive toughening agents in alumina-based nanocomposites
Guo-Dong Zhan1, Joshua D. Kuntz1, Julin Wan1 & Amiya K. Mukherjee1
Abstract
The extraordinary mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of carbon nanotubes have prompted intense research into a wide range of applications in structural materials, electronics, chemical processing and energy management. Attempts have been made to develop advanced engineering materials with improved or novel properties through the incorporation of carbon nanotubes in selected matrices (polymers, metals and ceramics). But the use of carbon nanotubes to reinforce ceramic composites has not been very successful; for example, in alumina-based systems only a 24% increase in toughness has been obtained so far. Here we demonstrate their potential use in reinforcing nanocrystalline ceramics. We have fabricated fully dense nanocomposites of single-wall carbon nanotubes with nanocrystalline alumina (Al2O3) matrix at sintering temperatures as low as 1,150 °C by spark-plasma sintering. A fracture toughness of 9.7 MPa m½, nearly three times that of pure nanocrystalline alumina, can be achieved.
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
Correspondence to: Amiya K. Mukherjee1 e-mail: akmukherjee@ucdavis.edu
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