Strengthening and toughening of carbon nanotube reinforced alumina nanocomposite fabricated by molecular level mixing process

A novel process to fabricate carbon nanotube (CNT)/alumina nanocomposites, consisting of a molecular level mixing process and an in situ spark plasma sintering process, is proposed. The CNT/alumina nanocomposites fabricated by this proposed process show enhanced hardness due to a load transfer mechanism of the CNTs and increased fracture toughness arising from the bridging mechanism of CNTs during crack propagation. (c) 2005 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.