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.