Fabrication and mechanical properties of SiO2-Al2O3-BNNPs and SiO2-Al2O3-BNNTs composites

► The paper reported fabrication and mechanical properties of S-A-BNNPs and S-A-BNNTs. ► Mechanical properties were improved by the additional Al2O3, BNNPs and BNNTs. ► The strengthening and toughening mechanisms were discussed respectively. ► The similarity in toughening mechanism for BNNPs and BNNTs were also discussed.