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Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Composites: Metal and Ceramic ...

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Figure 7.8 Normalized Vickers indentation fracture toughness<br />

values vs nanotube content for Al 2O 3/CNT nanocomposites<br />

sintering at different temperatures.<br />

7.3 Oxide-Based Nanocompositesj195<br />

conditions, the fracture toughness of dense Al2O3/10 vol% SWNT nanocomposite<br />

is nearly three times that of pure alumina. The normalized fracture<br />

toughness values of the nanocomposites as a function of filler content is also<br />

plotted in Figure 7.8. The beneficial toughening effect of SWNTs can be readily<br />

seen in this figure. Figure 7.9(a)–(c) show SEM fractographs of the Al2O3/<br />

10 vol% SWNT nanocomposite. Crack bridging, crack deflection <strong>and</strong> nanotube<br />

pull-out can be readily seen in an indentation crack of this nanocomposite.<br />

These mechanisms are responsible for the improved fracture toughness of the<br />

nanocomposite.<br />

The enhanced indentation fracture toughness of Al 2O 3/CNT nanocomposites<br />

associated with CNT additions has raised a doubt over the reliability of KIC<br />

values obtained from Vickers indentation tests. Recently, there has been a serious<br />

discussion <strong>and</strong> debate on the toughening effect of adding SWNT to alumina<br />

determined by Vickers indentation [21–23]. Padture <strong>and</strong> coworkers re-examined<br />

the effect of SWNTaddition on the fracture toughness of the Al2O3/10 vol% SWNT<br />

nanocomposite. Both VIF <strong>and</strong> SEVNB st<strong>and</strong>ard test methods were used to evaluate<br />

the fracture toughness [21]. They reported that CNT has little effect in improving<br />

the fracture toughness of alumina. The Al 2O 3/10 vol% SWNT nanocomposite<br />

was prepared by powder mixing in methanol, ball milling <strong>and</strong> SPS at 1450–1550 C<br />

for 2–3 min under a pressure of 40 MPa. For the purpose of comparison, Al2O3/<br />

10 vol% graphite composite was also fabricated under the same processing conditions.<br />

Further, dense <strong>and</strong> porous alumina specimens with grain sizes of 1–2 mm<br />

were prepared by cold isostatic pressing of the green compact <strong>and</strong> pressureless<br />

sintering at 1600 C for 30 min or 1350 C for 60 min. The r.d. of dense alumina,<br />

porous alumina, Al2O3/10 vol% SWNT nanocomposite <strong>and</strong> Al2O3/10 vol% graphite<br />

composite is 98.1, 90.6, 95.1 <strong>and</strong> 97.7%, respectively.

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