Graphene and Carbone nanotubes reinforced ceramic nanocomposite TiO2-MgO: Experimental and numerical study

Abstract

Ultra High Temperature Ceramic (UHTC) materials have attracted great interest for aerospace applications of hypersonic vehicles. They are subject to high aerodynamic forces and extreme heat fluxes where the surface temperature exceeds 2400 °C. The present work is first part of an experimental and numerical study of a new nanocomposite based on a ceramic matrix TiO2/MgO reinforced by Graphene Nano Platelets (GNP) or Carbone nanotubes (CNT). In the experimental part, the nanocomposite TiO2/MgO was elaborated by solid state mixing solutions, and the graphene oxides GO prepared by Hummers’s modified method, the obtained GO was reduced by Acid Ascorbic AA to achieved reduced graphene oxide rGO. On the other hand, the numerical part had been modelling two microstructures; the first is a ceramic composite reinforced by GNP, and the second is the same ceramic reinforced by CNT. Mori-Tanaka model is used as homogenization tool, with the multiscale representative volume element RVE approach. The goal of this work is to improve the stiffness and fracture toughness mechanisms by using nano particles. Wherein, the micromechanics models predict the mechanical performance of nanocomposites reinforced by aligned nano inclusion. The finite element model of composite is based on a Python code.