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Customizable Ceramic Nanocomposites Using Carbon Nanotubes

Okolo C 1 , Rafique R 2 , Iqbal SS 3 , Subhani T 4 , Saharudin MS 5 , Bhat BR 6 Show all authors , Inam F 7

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
  • 2 H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical and Biological, Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
  • 3 Department of Physics, University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
  • 4 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hail, Hail 81451, Saudi Arabia
  • 5 Malaysia Italy Design Institute (UniKL MIDI), Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur 59100, Malaysia
  • 6 Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Mangaluru 575025, India
  • 7 Department of Engineering and Computing, University of East London, London E16 2RD, UK. f.inam@uel.ac.uk
Molecules, 2019 Sep 01;24(17).
PMID: 31480573 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24173176

Abstract

A novel tweakable nanocomposite was prepared by spark plasma sintering followed by systematic oxidation of carbon nanotube (CNT) molecules to produce alumina/carbon nanotube nanocomposites with surface porosities. The mechanical properties (flexural strength and fracture toughness), surface area, and electrical conductivities were characterized and compared. The nanocomposites were extensively analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) for 2D qualitative surface morphological analysis. Adding CNTs in ceramic matrices and then systematically oxidizing them, without substantial reduction in densification, induces significant capability to achieve desirable/application oriented balance between mechanical, electrical, and catalytic properties of these ceramic nanocomposites. This novel strategy, upon further development, opens new level of opportunities for real-world/industrial applications of these relatively novel engineering materials.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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