The homogeneous dispersion of surfactantless, slightly disordered, crystalline, multiwalled carbon nanotubes in α-alumina ceramics for structural reinforcement

Surfactantless, hydrophilic, slightly disordered, crystalline, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were successfully prepared and then homogeneously and individually incorporated in an α-alumina ceramic by a recently established powder technology to investigate their load-carrying and reinforcing capabilities. As predicted, considerable structural reinforcement was obtained after spark plasma sintering, and microstructural characterizations can experimentally prove the effectiveness of the ability of these CNTs to reinforce the alumina ceramic matrix. Reinforcement mechanisms are thoroughly discussed in terms of microstructural characterizations.