The characterisation of alumina reinforced with carbon nanotube by the mechanical alloying method

Abstract

The carbon nanotube possesses excellent electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. Therefore, it has been applied in a variety of fields. In this study, we added a carbon nanotube in Al2O3 to improve the characteristics. The composite of the carbon nanotube (1.5 wt-%), Al2O3 (ϕ = 20 nm), zirconia (90 g) and ethanol (20 mL), respectively, are dispersed by a planetary ball mill. The prepared powder was pressed under 14 MPa uniaxially after the composite was dried in an oven at 90°C, and then the powder is pressed again by a cold isostatic press with 200 MPa. Then, reinforced alumina matrix composites with a carbon nanotube were sintered by a high temperature furnace at 1525°C. As a result, at 200 rev min−1, the hardness was increased from 14.36 to 23.57 Gpa as the duration was increased. It was increased also at 300 rev min−1 from 22.75 to 28.24 GPa, respectively. Comparison by the rotational speed showed that the hardness at 300 rev min−1 was measured to be higher than the hardness at 200 rev min−1.