Effect of carbon nanotubes on the properties of ZrB2–SiC ceramics

ZrB2–20 vol%SiC ceramics without and with additive of 2 wt% carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated by hot-pressing at 1900 °C for 1 h under 30 MPa using ZrB2, SiC and CNTs as starting materials. The fracture toughness increased about 15%, but hardness, flexural strength as well as thermal conductivity did not vary significantly from the addition of CNTs.