Enhanced mechanical properties in ZrO2 multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites produced by sol–gel and high-pressure

• Published in: Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects Vol. 4; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Almeida, Voltaire O., Balzaretti, Naira M., Costa, Tania M.H., Gallas, Marcia R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-12-2015
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; High-pressure; Nanocomposites; Sol–gel; Zirconia; Zirconia; Carbon nanotubes; Nanocomposites; Sol–gel; High-pressure
• ISSN: 2352-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoso.2015.09.001

Sol–gel processing and heat-treatment were used to obtain nanopowders with tetragonal phase of undoped zirconia reinforced with well-dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs), having contents between 1 and 5 wt.%. Amorphous nanopowders treated at 500 °C crystallized in the tetragonal phase of zirconia with an average crystallite size of 25 nm. The nanocomposites containing 3 wt.% of MWCNTs reached 98% of the theoretical density, with an increase in hardness of about 15%, and a fracture toughness about 110% higher compared to the values obtained for pure zirconia compacted at the same conditions. The novelty in our study is the production of zirconia/MWCNTs nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties by compaction of nanopowders under high-pressure at moderate temperature.