Abstract
Alumina-based nanocomposites were fabricated and consolidated via spark plasma sintering. The effect of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and niobium additions to nanocrystalline alumina was examined by in situ bend testing. The addition of 10 vol.% niobium to nanocrystalline alumina provided substantial improvement of fracture toughness (6.1 MPa m 1/2)—almost three times that of nanocrystalline alumina. Observation of cracks emanating from Vickers indents, as well as bend specimen fracture surfaces, reveal the operation of ductile phase toughening in the Nb–Al 2O 3 nanocomposites. Further addition of 5 vol.% SWCNTs to the 10 vol.%Nb–Al 2O 3 revealed a more porous structure and less impressive fracture toughness—having an indentation and bend fracture toughness of 2.9 MPa m 1/2 and 3.3 MPa m 1/2, respectively.
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