Ceramic-matrix nanocomposites

Processing and microstructural control of metal-reinforced ceramic matrix nanocomposites... 

The initial interest in ceramic matrix nanocomposites arose from reports by Niihara and co-workers indicating enhanced mechanical properties due to the presence of ceramic (SiC) particles.53 With the development of various processing routes to introduce nanometer-sized metal particles in a ceramic matrix, variations in functional (i.e. magnetic) properties are possible. In the following we briefly review the microstructurally dependent properties, with emphasis on the possible mechanisms leading to improved properties and using SiC-reinforced alumina as a point of comparison. 

In metal-reinforced ceramic matrix nanocomposites, matrix grain refinement has also been demonstrated by Niihara and co-workers.12 At the same time, as mentioned in the previous section, significant residual stress fields have been measured for Ni-reinforced alumina nanocomposites,23 although with reversed compression-tension fields compared to SiC-reinforced alumina. Thus for metal particles below the critical size for intrinsic cracking11 and... 

Rul, S., Lefevre-Schlick, F., Capria, E., Laurent, Ch. and Peigney, A., Percolation of single-walled carbon nanotubes in ceramic matrix nanocomposites , Acta Mater. 2004, 52, 1061-1067. 

Peigney, A., Laurent, Ch., Flahaut, E. and Rousset, A., Carbon nanotubes in novel ceramic matrix nanocomposites , Ceram. Int., 2000, 26, 677-683. 

According to the matrix, nanocomposites may be classified into three categories i) Ceramic matrix nanocomposite, ii) metal matrix nanocomposites, and iii) polymer matrix nanocomposite. In the first group of composites the matrix is a ceramic material, i.e., a chemical compoxmd from the group of oxides, nitrides, borides, silicides, etc. In most cases of ceramic-matrix nanocomposites the dispersed phase is a metal, and ideally both components, the metallic one and the ceramic one, are finely dispersed in each other in order to elicit the particular nanoscopic properties. Nanocomposites from these combinations were demonstrated to improve their optical, electrical and magnetic properties [5,4], as well as tribological, corrosion-resistance and other protective properties [6,5]. Thus the safest measure is to carefully choose immiscible metal and... 

A. Peigney, C. Laurent, E. Flahaut, and A. Rousset, "Carbon nanotubes in novel ceramic matrix nanocomposites, Ceramics International, 26(6] 677-683.2000. 

The Wear Response of Ceramic Matrix Nanocomposite Coatings in Simulated Piston-Ring/Cylinder Wall Test Environments... 

Lau, K., Hui, D. - The revolutionary creation of new advanced materials-carbon nanotube composites . Composites Part B 33 (2002) 263-277 Wagner, H., Lourie, O., Zhou, X. - Macrofragmentation and microfragmentation phenomena in composite materials . Composites Part A 30 (1999) 59-66 Xiao, Q., Zhou, X. - The study of multi walled carbon nanotube deposited with conducting polymer for super capacitor , Electrochimica Acta 48 (2003) 575-580 Peigney, A., Laurent, C., Flahaut, E., Rousset, A. - Carbon nanotubes in novel ceramic matrix nanocomposites . Ceramics Int. 26 (2000) 611-6 3. 

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