Abstract
Highly dense yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) nano-ceramics reinforced with TC-CVD-synthesized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated using spark plasma sintering at a temperature of 1350°C, the heating rate of 100 °C/min and pressure of 50MPa with a dwell time of 10 minutes. The identical parameters were utilized for fabricating composites with a varying weight ratio of YSZ and MWNCTs. The samples were characterized for their phase transformation, microstructure and elemental composition using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The physical and mechanical properties such as density, porosity, hardness, fracture toughness and wear were also investigated. The increase in the MWCNTs concentration has resulted in the deterioration of the hardness due to CNT agglomerations. The wear resistance of the composites revealed MWNCTs enhanced wear resistance of YSZ nanocomposite by undergoing MWNCTs pull-out and crack branching mechanisms. Further indentation method and single-beam V-notch beam (SEVNB) methods were utilized to study the effect of MWCNTs on the fracture toughness of the nanocomposites. The fracture toughness of YC1 (6.58 ± 0.3 MPa m1/2) was 21% higher than the YSZ (5.21 ± 0.2 MPa m1/2) due to the toughening mechanisms attributable to crack deflection, branching and bridging of MWCNTs.
Highlights
Over the decades, ageing has been a common issue for the human being who involves degenerative issues of human joints, musculoskeletal diseases and dental problems
It is shown that the apparent density values are slightly increasing with the addition of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and dropped from thereon, which may have been a result of CNT filling up the voids inside the composite by slipping away during the compaction process while sintering
By observing the transition from open pores to closed pores between yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and YC2, it is evident that the composite which undergoes at high temperature leads to solidstate diffusion of the material which closes up the pores formed on the surface
Summary
Over the decades, ageing has been a common issue for the human being who involves degenerative issues of human joints, musculoskeletal diseases and dental problems.
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