Abstract
Toughened and hardened alumina/carbon nanotubes and zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA)/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites were developed by conventional ceramics route using pressureless sintering for the ballistic application. The multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) were functionalized with nitric acid oxidation reaction. Moreover, the surfactants sodium dodecyl sulphate and gum arabic were used to promote a homogeneous distribution of CNT in the ceramic matrix. Ceramic powders were prepared with pure alumina, alumina with the addition of 20 wt% of tetragonal zirconia/yttria, alumina/CNT and ZTA/CNT with the addition of 0.1 and 0.5 wt% of CNT. The morphology of nanocomposites was characterized by SEM-FEG. The mechanical properties of sintered samples were evaluated by flexural bending, Vickers microhardness and fracture toughness by SEVNB method. The addition of CNT in the ceramic and composite caused a general increase in densification, hardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness. ZTA composite with the addition of 0.1 wt% of CNT yielded the best results.
Keywords:
alumina; zirconia; carbon nanotubes; nanocomposites
